PINDAN PREMIER GRADE PREVIEW: GRAND FINAL

The Pindan Premier Grade reaches its pinnacle this Sunday afternoon when Nedlands and Wests Scarborough do battle at McGillivray Oval for the right to the 2015 premiership.

Fittingly the grand final sees the season’s two best sides meet to fight for ultimate glory. Wests Scarborough dropped just one game on their way to the final while Nedlands stormed home to claim the minor premiership ahead of the Boars thanks to a superior number of bonus-points.

Nedlands have proven themselves as one of the most dynamic attacking forces in the competition this year and this was on full display in last week’s semi-final, running in seven tries including a brace to Dylan Loversidge to claim a come-from-behind 41-23 victory over Cottesloe.

Wests Scarborough faced a much sterner task in their semi-final, clawing their way to a three-point victory over Kalamunda. Trailing by two points at half time, the Boars rallied in the second half with flyhalf AJ Alatimu kicking his side to victory with five-second half penalty goals, including the sealer just minutes from full time.

Nedlands will be looking for their star-studded backline to fire yet again to give themselves every chance of lifting the cup. Loversidge, flyhalf Jesse Toto and winger Kauri Cudd have all impressed this season and will need to bring their best again this weekend.

With the battle up front likely to be key to either side’s premiership chances, Nedlands will look to their experienced front row featuring skipper Joe Ritchie and Jermaine Ainsley to lead the pack in what will surely be a bruising encounter. ‘Neddies’ will also be strengthened by the return of their dynamic scrumhalf, Michael Ruru, from a one-match suspension.

Wests Scarborough’s AJ Alatimu leads all comers in point scoring this season with 208 points to his name through the regular season and his ability both with ball in hand and off the tee could prove the difference down the straight. The Boars’ back-row – led by Pierre Roberts and Kane Koteka – will also be a crucial factor with both men possessing tremendous strength in contact and at the breakdown.

Nedlands’ last premiership came in 2013 and they are on the hunt for their third flag of the decade after also claiming the title in 2010.

Wests Scarborough will look to break a premiership drought dating back to 2006, which was the last of four consecutive premierships.

There will be no shortage of passion coming from the coaches this weekend as both men were involved in their respective club’s last premierships as players. Luke Doherty started at flanker in Nedlands’ 2013 premiership and Dwayne Grace tasted premiership glory four times with Wests from 2003-2006, with both men keen to experience premiership ecstasy from the other side of the sideline.

Sunday is poised to be a classic grand final with the two sides splitting the points earlier this season. The Boars came out on top in Round One, 26-19, while ‘Neddies’ took the bragging rights back in Round 12 with a commanding 29-13 victory.

Nedlands: 1. Joe Ritchie, 2. Anaru Rangi, 3. Jermaine Ainsley, 4. Danny Hartwell, 5. Michael Egan, 6. Tevin Ferris, 7. Shane Hemi, 8. Richard Naylor, 9. Michael Ruru, 10. Jesse Toto, 11. Kauri Cudd, 12. Fred Titoko, 13. Ben Titoko, 14. Juan Pretorius, 15. Dylan Loversidge.
Wests Scarborough: 1. Chris Kidd, 2. Conan Houkamau, 3. Mike Tamihana, 4. Matthew O’Brien, 5. Riley Winter, 6. Kane Koteka, 7. Keith Andrews, 8. Pierre Roberts, 9. Michael Marshall, 10. AJ Alatimu 11. Jordan Luke, 12. Marty Campbell, 13. Sheldon Tarawa, 14. Cody Coe Baker, 15. Jarome Leonard-TeKanawa.

Sunday, 23 August, 2015
Kick-off times:
Pindan Premier Grade: 3.20pm
Pindan Reserve Grade: 1.30pm
Under 19: 12pm

For the weekend’s complete grand final schedule click here

By Fraser Smith

Nedlands v Wests Scarborough at McGillivray Oval, Mount Claremont
Round One: Wests Scarborough 26 defeated Nedlands 19 at The Foreshore, Nedlands.
Round 12: Nedlands 29 defeated Wests Scarborough 13 at Bennett Park, Doubleview.

See ya on the hill on Sunday :cheers:

I will be there!

WESTERN FORCE MEDIA RELEASE
Sunday, 23 August 2015

NEDLANDS CROWNED 2015 PREMIERS

Pindan Premier Grade – Grand Final
Nedlands 39 defeated Wests Scarborough 27 at McGillivray Oval, Mt Claremont

By Fraser Smith

Nedlands have claimed the 2015 Pindan Premier Grade Premiership with a classic 39-27 win over Wests Scarborough at McGillivray Oval this afternoon.

In a back-and-forth first half, Nedlands made the most of their opportunities, running in three tries to two to take a 24-10 lead at the break. In a thrilling second half, ‘Neddies’ – led by an Etixx Man of the Match performance from No.8 Richard Naylor – were able to hold off the fast-finishing Boars.

Nedlands head coach Luke Doherty said he was proud of his side’s performance and thrilled to experience his first premiership as a coach.

“Full credit to Wests, they made is hard for us all day and they are really good rugby side,” he said. “Fortunately we were just that little bit better today and that got us over the line.

“When they started coming back, the boys stuck to our game plan and that faith in our systems is what really helped us hold them off.

“Some of the older heads in the team guys like Joe Ritchie, Michael Ruru and Richard Naylor really stood-up today. The old saying you have to lose a few before you win one came true today.”

Nedlands started the match at a furious pace charging deep into the Wests 22m courtesy of a mid-field break from centre Davis Tavita. On the backfoot, Wests conceded the first penalty of the match and Kauri Cudd made no mistake, knocking it over for the first points of the final.

‘Neddies’ continued to pressure the Boars as flyhalf Jesse Toto quickly shifted the ball from one wing to the other with a two-man overlap allowing Cudd to cruise over to score in the corner for the first try of the contest. Cudd converted his try to hand Nedlands an early 10-0 lead.

Toto then put Richard Naylor into space before the No.8 put his head down and barged over the line from five-metres out. Cudd added the extras to give the minor premiers some breathing room and a 17-0 lead.

Sensing the pressure, Wests Scarborough responded almost immediately, when, deep in Nedlands’ half, Boars vice-captain Michael Marshall took the game into his own hands taking the quick tap and charging forward before swinging the ball wide for Jordan Luke to touch down in the corner and close the gap to 17-5.

With the momentum shifting Wests Scarborough continued to roll forward and following an attacking scrum, AJ Alatimu put in a grubber kick into the corner, with a fumble in goal from Nedlands allowing Jarome Leonard-TeKanawa to dive on the ball and score the Boars’ second.

Nedlands had the final say of the first half as Cudd found Michael Egan in space allowing the lock to storm in from 20-metres out and score under the posts for his side’s third. Cudd converted to hand Nedlands a 24-10 lead at halftime.

Wests drew first blood in the second half as AJ Alatimu kicked his first penalty of the game to close the gap to 24-13.

Following a break from Nedlands skipper Joe Ritchie deep into the Wests 22m, Toto shifted the ball to a two-man overlap on the right wing finding fullback Dylan Loversidge who sold a dummy and stepped inside to score Nedlands’ fourth of the afternoon. Kudd converted with ease to extend the lead to 31-13.

Wests kept themselves in the hunt thanks to a Keith Andrews try off the back of a rolling maul and Alatimu converted to close the gap to 31-20.

Cudd steadied the ship with his second penalty of the contest to push the lead out to 34-20.

Wests Scarborough’s Marty Campbell set up a potential grandstand finish as he intercepted a loose pass and charged 30-metres to score under the posts. Campbell converted his own try to bring the Boars within seven, trailing 34-27.

In a whirlwind passage of play, Nedlands answered back immediately as Loversidge charged down the right wing before the fullback offloaded to Michael Ruru, who dived over from just a metre out to finalise the result as Nedlands claimed the premiership 39-27.

The Pindan Premier Grade Premiership completes historic treble for the club with Nedlands claiming the Belt Up Under 19 and Pindan Reserve Grade premierships earlier in the day.

Nedlands 39 (Michael Ruru, Kauri Cudd, Richard Naylor, Michael Egan, Dylan Loversidge tries; Kauri Cudd 4 conversion, 2 penalties) def Wests Scarborough 27 (Jordan Luke, Jarome Leonard-TeKanawa, Keith Andrews, Marty Campbell tries; AJ Alatimu conversion, penalty, Marty Campbell conversion)
Etixx Player of the Match: Richard Naylor

Other RugbyWA Senior Grade grand final results:

PINDAN RESERVE GRADE
Nedlands 20 (Neihana Christian try; Michael Botes 5 penalties) def Associates 19 (Matt Dreyer try; Matt Dreyer conversion, 4 penalties)
Etixx Player of the Match: Michael Botes

BELT UP UNDER 19
Nedlands 17 (Bryce Hendricks, Ben Manifold tries; Herschelle Classen 2 conversions, penalty) def Joondalup 12 (Taine Timoko, Isaac Cavu tries; Stuart Davey conversion)
Etixx Player of the Match: Herschelle Classen

PINDAN OPEN DIVISION 1
Curtin Uni 27 (Erik Lagesse 2; Guy Archibald, Usaia Ralulu tries; Robert Fulton 2 conversions, penalty) def Rockingham 23 (Josh Hanson 2, Adam Brick tries; Dudley Courtland conversion, 2 penalties)
Etixx Player of the Match: Dean Tyrrell

PINDAN OPEN DIVISION 2
ARKS 46 (Kayne Cassidy 2; Storm Takuta, Oshay Jensen, Beau Cassidy, Roughan Kiel, Reon Wynyard tries; Reon Wynyard 3 conversions, penalty, Joe Kapua conversion) def Palmyra 15 (Brett Limpus, Peter Firth tries; Peter Firth conversion, penalty)
Etixx Player of the Match: Kayne Cassidy

PINDAN OPEN DIVISION 3
Palmyra 44 (Nicholas Short 3; Jarrad Menary, Fraley Hopa, Jarrod Degonkolbe, Darren Rudling tries; Junior Greig 2 conversions) def Curtin Uni 0
Etixx Player of the Match: Fraley Hopa

PINDAN OPEN DIVISION 4
Cottesloe 11 (John Cameron tries; Connor Brenan 2 penalties) def Mandurah 5 (Bryn Pou try)
Etixx Player of the Match: Will Hopi Gerard

PINDAN OPEN DIVISION 5
Associates 13 (Ben Lee try; Damien Elton conversion, 2 penalties) def Cottesloe All Stars 10 (Matt Aitken try; Eruera Haimona conversion, penalty)
Etixx Player of the Match: Damien Elton

ALCOHOL.THINK AGAIN WOMEN'S
Wanneroo Divas 12 (Anneka Stephens, Cheyelle Robins-Reti tries; Naomi Kara conversion) def Cottesloe 6 (Tui Cope penalties)
Etixx Player of the Match: Anneka Stephens

It was a good afternoon out, Neddies were just a gear to high for West.

Any news on Kane Koteka, subbed early with what looks like a shoulder complaint