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By RugbyWA Media
Contributors: Josh Zimmerman
UWA registered their fourth win in a row and move to second on the KWIK Premier Grade table after defeating fellow top four rivals Wests Subiaco 26 - 8 in wet and blustery conditions at Rosalie Park.
Uni raced to a 15 point lead at the break using a stiff breeze at their backs and then held their opponents scoreless in a dour second half that was marred by a torrential downpour.
“It was an important win for us today, coming here to Wests who are a good side and who have had a good season,” said UWA Coach Steve McFarland.
“They got over Nedlands last week so we knew we were in for a hard game and it was exactly that.
“We had the wind in the first half and once the rain came through in the second it made things very difficult for both sides in terms of handling and getting your hands on the ball.
“Making the most of the conditions when they were to our advantage was definitely crucial,” McFarland said.
The game began in overcast and windy but dry conditions and Uni didn't take long to break the deadlock, Bruce Smith-Wright pounced on a loose lineout throw from Wests Subiaco and caught their defence off-guard to sprint away and dive over in the corner.
Flyhalf Alan Kingsley just missed the conversion from out to the left but added a penalty shortly afterwards to extend the lead to eight.
Wests Subiaco struck back with a penalty of their own to Teava Terangi in the 21st minute before UWA added two tries through their forward pack.
The first went to prop Trevor Downes who drove over from close range after a brilliant break from Andy Finn got Uni within a couple of metres of the try line. The second came five minutes later through Tim Carslaw who jumped over in the corner off the back of a strong rolling maul.
Wests managed to add a try of their own ten minutes later when Chance Peni made the most of a good run from fullback, and namesake, Chance Antonievic-Bunce to dot down in the corner.
Terangi missed the conversion while his opposite number added a penalty on the stroke of half time to give UWA a handy break at the half.
The heavens opened in the second stanza and with the rain bucketing down it quickly became apparent that it was going to be a tough slog. Neither said was really able to adapt with handling errors and poor decision making it a long 40 minutes for player and spectators alike.
Wests had most of the ball but couldn't do anything with it as Uni's defence held off wave after wave of attack.
“I think there were patches of defence where we really dug deep,” said McFarland.
“Particularly in the second half and near the end where we didn't have much of the ball but we defended very, very well and I think that went a long way towards us getting the win.
The tough going meant tempers began to flare and frustration levels peaked in the 65th minute when an off the ball scuffle resulted in a player from each side being sent to the bin for a spell and it was during this time that Uni scored the only points of the second half, a penalty to Kingsley.
“The weather was a factor but we just didn't play well,” said Wests Subiaco coach Steven Montgomery.
“In the second half we had the wind but we tried to run from inside our own half instead of playing for territory.
“I think the last two or three games have been pretty physical and that maybe took a toll today, we might have been a bit flat but they were 17 points better than us in round one and 18 points better than us in round 10 so maybe we have something to look at more than the weather.
“Uni played great football today. Tactically they played very, very well and their mindset at the start of the game was better.
“I don't want to take anything away from them and say it was the weather or that we had a bad day. I think they just played great football.
In other results Nedlands retained their lead at the top of the log after accounting for Cottesloe 17 – 10.
While Neddies have gone from strength to strength this season, the Seagulls, grand finalists last season, are languishing near the bottom of the table in a dramatic fall from grace.
Associates inconsistent season continued with the Swanbourne club falling to a resurgent Palmyra by 22 points at Tompkins Park. Palmyra’s win was their sixth in eight outings and reaffirmed their position in the top four.
Wanneroo avenged their opening round defeat at the hands of Kalamunda with a hard fought three point result at Kingsway. The Roo Dogs have now won four in a row while Kalamunda’s season of woe continues.
At Lark Hill, Rockingham snapped a three match losing streak with an impressive 20 point win over a faltering Perth Bayswater. It was a critical game for both sides who are eyeing a playoff spot and Baysie must quickly regroup if they’re to continue to make the most of a season that promised so much in the opening rounds.
Round 10
KWIK Premier Grade: Nedlands 17 bt Cottesloe 10, Palmyra 29 bt Associates 7, Wanneroo 32 bt Kalamunda 29, UWA 26 bt Wests Subiaco 8, Rockingham 23 bt Perth Bayswater 3.
Reserve Grade: Nedlands 23 dw Cottesloe 23, Palmyra 25 bt Associates 19, Wanneroo 45 bt Kalamunda 12, UWA 31 bt Wests Subiaco 20, Rockingham 22 bt Perth Bayswater 12.
Under 20's: Palmyra 26 bt Associates 19, Perth Bayswater 48 bt Curtin Uni 5, Cottesloe 15 bt Nedlands 13.
Under 18's: Palmyra 27 bt ARKs 10, Wanneroo 25 bt Mandurah 7, Wests Subiaco 52 bt Joondalup 0, Perth Bayswater 25 bt Southern Lions 0, UWA 27 bt Cottesloe 22.
3rd Grade Black: Nedlands 22 bt Cottesloe 0, Palmyra 13 dw Associates 13, Kalamunda 33 bt Wanneroo 19, Wests Subiaco 44 bt UWA 13, Southern Lions 39 bt Perth Bayswater 0.
4th Grade Black: Nedlands 17 bt Cottesloe 8, Associates 24 bt Palmyra 17, Kalamunda 18 bt Wanneroo 8, Wests Subiaco 22 bt UWA 5, Rockingham 22 bt Perth Bayswater 0.
3rd Grade Gold: ARKs 38 bt Midland 7, Southern Lions 34 bt Bunbury 7, Mandurah 14 bt Joondalup 10.
4th Grade Gold: Southern Lions 26 bt Bunbury 17, Nedlands 20 bt Curtin Uni 5, Joondalup 35 bt Mandurah 7.
4th Grade Blue: Associates 30 bt Palmyra 18, Curtin Uni 19 bt Joondalup 0, Cottesloe 65 bt Joondalup Blue 0.
Round 7 Women's: Wanneroo 25 bt Kalamunda 0, Perth Bayswater 45 bt Rockingham 0.
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