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The race is on for a place in the finals as fifth-placed Kalamunda and sixth-placed Wanneroo do battle at Kingsway Reserve in Saturday's match of the round in the Rugby WA club competition, sponsored by KWIK Transport and Crane Hire.
Kalamunda, premiers in 2008, started the season well and had four wins from their first four games, including a 22-21 win over Wanneroo at Hartfield.
But then the rot set in and losses to Palmyra, Cottesloe and Nedlands were followed by a 29-24 defeat by a resurgent Wests-Subiaco to close out the first half of the season.
Wins over lower clubs kept the Bulls in contention in fifth place but to catch fourth-placed Palmyra, just two competition points ahead on the table, Kalamunda need to account for Wanneroo at Kingsway on Saturday.
Wanneroo are in an even worse position. The Roo-dogs contested the 2008 grand final with Kalamunda but lost last year's minor semi-final to eventual premiers Cottesloe.
This season they lost three of their first four games, and by the end of the first half of the season had lost to all top four teams, and Kalamunda. The same losses have started the second half of the season but while the big wins aren't coming their way, it's not because the Roo-dogs aren't competitive.
In round eleven's 32-19 loss to competition leaders Nedlands, the Roo-dogs had an even share of possession and territory and were in the game until the final ten minutes. A lack of finish and a disadvantage in the set pieces at the worst times made it difficult for them to capitalise but Wanneroo have the players to be genuine finalists if they can add a little polish to their game.
Although the Roo-dogs lost their strike weapon from 2009, exciting international sevens rep Koiatu Koiatu, they gained a couple of heavyweight front rowers including massive captain Tuaefe, and talented centre centre Ammon Matuatuto from the NZ tasman Makos.
Kalamunda lost attacking fullback Dion Berryman from last season but have gained a couple of useful forwards to stiffen their pack, an area where they sometimes suffered last year. The Bulls exciting back line has been sporadic this season and must get back to their best to keep that fourth finals spot in sight.
One thing in Wanneroo's favour is that they have already played some of their big games for the second half of the season and should look to account for either Associates or Palmyra, as well as the clubs below them on the table, in the remaining five weeks of the competition.
Kalamunda's task is a little harder – the Bulls have only met Associates since the start of the second half of the season and still need to face Cottesloe, Nedlands and Palmyra.
But it all starts this weekend and either Kalamunda or Wanneroo will take a big step towards making that elusive top four.
In other games, premiers Cottesloe should stay on course when they meet University at Harvey Field, Wests-Subiaco will be intent on maintaining their new-found success when they play the still-winless Perth-Bayswater at Pat O'Hara Reserve, Palmyra will be eager to return to the winners' circle after last week's loss when they host Rockingham at Tompkins Park, and frontrunners Nedlands will be desperate to maintain their paper-thin place on top of the table when they play Associates at Allen Park
by Rick Boyd
http://rugbywa.com.au/news/article,58637.html
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