Cottesloe shook off the doldrums that cost them the runner-up position to humiliate Wanneroo 39-8 today at Lark Hill in the Rugby WA club competition minor semi-final, sponsored by KWIK Crane and Transport Hire.

In an irrepressible first half, the Seagulls dominated territory and possession, a lethal combination of halfback Mark Swanepoel and flyhalf Dave Cloete setting up scoring opportunities for a 20-3 half time lead.

The contest was effectively over early in the first half at 32-3 and although the Roo-dogs lifted for lengthy attacking periods and scored a slashing try to slippery centre Koiaty Koiatu, a match-winning comeback was never on the cards.

The Seagulls benefited from the presence of Wallaby Richard Brown, who turned out in the blue-on-blue number seven jumper, and although he had a solid game he was not the strike weapon that destroyed Wanneroo's hopes. A comprehensive team effort brought the Seagulls home as it has done all year, with Cloete again the danger man.

For Wanneroo, it was a disappointing conclusion to a season in which they often looked the team to beat, following on from their grand final appearance in 2008. Elwee Prinsloo and his team brought an entertaining brand of rugby to the WA competition but will now be spectators as Cottesloe go on to meet Nedlands in the preliminary final at McGillivray Oval next Saturday.
Wanneroo opened the account with a 30 metre Troy Doughty penalty in the second minute of play but Cloete replied two minutes later with a similar kick, also for offside. The howling gale that made life miserable for the major semi-final kickers was fortunately absent on a pleasant, sunny day at Lark Hill with nothing more than a light breeze affecting the ball.

Cottesloe had the better of territory as the half unfolded although Wanneroo occasionally looked dangerous with the ball in hand.

Cloete kicked a second moderate penalty chance for offside after 17 minutes as Wanneroo overdid a passionate defence. There was plenty of kicking from both sides in this tight semi-final but Cott increased their control of territory to camp in Wanneroo's 22, and the pressure eventually told, halfback Swanepoel scooting over for a try after a tap penalty. Cloete converted and the Seagulls went ahead 13-3.

Cott kept at it and from a lineout just before half time, the ball went wide and was mauled up by the forwards, lock Matt Battishall claiming the try beside the posts. Cloete converted the sitter and narrowly missed an angled penalty on the stroke of half time, the Seagulls taking a healthy 20-3 lead into the break.

Cott opened the second spell in a similar vein, dominating territory for Cloete to shoot in for a try after four minutes, running blind from a scrum just inside the 22. Cloete converted from the sideline as the Seagulls made it look easy at 27-3.

It looked even easier three minutes later as Cloete sliced through the defence in close and sprinted clear to put fullback Sam Parker in out wide. Cloete missed the conversion from the other side of the field but at 32-3 it was hardly an issue.

Finally stung into action, Wanneroo lifted to take the game into the Seagulls' half and came close to scoring after a superb wide run by blindside flanker Lance Hamilton. Then, after a tap penalty 17 minutes in, Koaitu sliced through for a try in the corner.

Wanneroo kept banging away, inside centre Palei Masila putting in huge hits in defence and Koaitu repeatedly threatening with the ball in hand.

But Cottesloe weren't done with and from a penalty scrum with ten minutes to play, the ball went wide and wing Ben Mitchell crossed in the corner. Cloete converted the wide chance and the Seagulls went ahead 39-8, staying on top until the final whistle.

In other games, Associates second grade defeated Kalamunda 30-26, Kalamunda under 20s defeated Wests-Subiaco 23-13, Kalamunda under 18s defeated Wanneroo 25-24, Nedlands third grade gold defeated ARKs, Perth-Bayswater fourth grade black defeated Kalamunda 24-10 and ARKs fourth grade gold defeated Mandurah 24-19.

by Rick Boyd

http://rugbywa.com.au/news/article,56373.html