Printable View
I thought that Rick Boyd's write up would be up by now, so sorry for the delayed information.
I missed the first half of first grade, but in the end Kala beat Pally 15 to 11, with Pally just missing a winning try in the last second.Well done Kala, but dont build your dreams on this game , 3 top Pally players out were a big part of your win.
Sour grapes perhaps, but this was not an impressive game.
Competition bye next week.
In other grades 2nds, 3rds and colts lost, 5th and 6th won.
1st's game was good. but pally blew chances and chucky missed a few and kala took there chances. pally were unlucky not to score at the end but since they had their blinkers on most of the game it was no wonder.
Sunday, 1 July 2007 1:33am
by Rick Boyd
Kalamunda danger man centre Dave Kara spreads the ball wideKalamunda hung onto second place in the Home Building Society competition with a tight, nervous 11-7 win over third-placed Palmyra at Tompkins Park today.
Kalamunda lifted to score the winning try from a scrum set move early in the second half, and gave supporters of both teams heart palpitations as they hung on desperately against relentless Palmyra attack in the dying stages.
Palmyra led 7-3 after a tight first half where they dominated territory but couldn't penetrate Kalamunda's tenacious defence until minutes before the break.
Palmyra had the better of early territory despite a couple of Kalamunda turnovers, and James Stannard, playing at half back, narrowly missed a 45 metre penalty in the third minute.
Instead Kalamunda rode a couple of penalties downfield and halfback Colin Murphy kicked a goal from another of them after 13 minutes.
Palmyra looked more creative with the ball in hand and strung multiple phases of cohesive attack together but Kalamunda were dogged in defence and terriers in the loose.
After 18 minutes Stannard bounced another penalty attempt off the post and the tightly balanced game continued with Palmyra dominating territory but unable to penetrate Kalamunda's tight cover defence.
Another long range Stannard penalty fell short 28 minutes in and then wing Doug Ratahi was pulled up short of the corner, but just before half time centre Malu Lautigatoloai cut clean through from a scrum on the 22 for a try. Stannard converted from a moderate angle and the home side hit the front 7-3.
A rare Stannard knock on put Kalamunda on attack 8 minutes into the second spell and centre Dave Kara went blind from the scrum to feed wing Quinton Tufoa. Tufoa powered up the sideline but was brought down short, however momentum carried him over for the try. The sideline conversion fell short but Kalamunda crept in front 8-7.
Kalamunda stayed in Palmyra's half and ground up with punishing rolling mauls and pick and drives but Murphy missed a difficult penalty shot after 20 minutes and Paly moved back downfield.
Stannard shaved the uprights with a sideline penalty chance minutes later and the game stayed on a knife edge going into the final 15 minutes.
A 45 metre Stannard drop goal attempt came close but Kalamunda stormed back, and first inside centre Conan Tutara almost scored from a mishandled Palmyra ball, then blindside flanker Bradley Bell went over from the ensuing scrum, only to be called back for a knock on.
With 8 minutes to play, Murphy steered a penalty for hands in the ruck between the uprights from a moderate angle on the 22 and the Bulls went clear of the 3 point danger margin at 11-7.
Palmyra worked back into Kalamunda's half and strung multiple phases of attack together, helped by a series of penalties as the Bulls scrambled desperately in defence.
The home team hammered Kalamunda's line with 15 heart-stopping phases in the final minutes but the Bulls defenders were everywhere and the game finished when the final phase was bundled into touch.
Kalamunda coach Andrew Spicer was a relieved man after the final whistle, with a result that didn't seem likely at half time.
"They got all the ball but we got three points, then we just hung in there," Spicer said.
"The second half we played well, I thought. We got phases going and created enough to win the game.
"It's a huge win, they're third, we're second."
Spicer acknowledged that while the game was intensely exciting, it didn't offer much as a spectacle.
"We tried to run the ball but both teams were switched on to each other, we're both attacking teams," Spicer said.
"Then in the second half we decided to just take it off the rucks instead of working it wide, and I think it worked pretty well."
Spicer praised his team's defensive efforts and revealed his secret training incentive for guarding the Kalamunda scoreline.
"We do these things called 'Hendersons' and every try we let in, we do one, and it just kills them," he said.
"So they'll be pretty happy they don't have to do many.
"Things are looking good, we've got a good squad," Spicer said.
"That's a huge foot in the door."
In other games, Perth-Bayswater kept a place in the top four by defeating defending premier Wests-Subiaco 19-14 at Rosalie Park, frontrunners Nedlands thrashed University 68-3 at McGillivray Oval, Rockingham scored a massive upset over Associates 33-14 at Dowling Street and Cottesloe defeated Wanneroo 39-21 at Harvey Field.
http://www.westernforce.com.au/news/.../section/50753
Thanks Gerry.:) It all looks better next morning!
Frank we should be gracious in defeat. Its hard to watch a game like that after watching the great game that 6ths played hey!!Quote:
Originally Posted by fulvio sammut
Frank, I see Chucky was playing halfback? Who moved to flyhalf and did Jason Bourke play 2nds?
jason bourke was playing at 10 for the first grade, and as usual had a real good game
Awsome Bourkey,
Good to see the ex Paly colts coming up through the ranks and holding their own.
Damo.