Two traditional opponents lock horns when Nedlands meet Cottesloe at Sir Charles Court Reserve on Saturday, in what is looking suspiciously like a grand final preview in the WA club rugby competition, sponsored by KWIK Crane and Transport Hire.

It is one of the older rivalries in WA club rugby -- Cottesloe were super-powers of the 70s as Nedlands were of the 80s, and the two clubs staged a string of legendary all-blue battles that is about to be renewed in unlikely circumstances in 2009.

After not missing a finals series in over two decades, that Nedlands should be heading for yet another one should be no surprise to anyone in WA rugby. But seven games into the competition, the Royal Blues had just two wins to their name, languished in the lower reaches of the table and looked most unlikely to make the finals at all.

Seven wins on the trot changed all that, culminating in last weekend’s 52-20 ambush of 2008 grand finalists Wanneroo at Kingsway. Neddies are on a roll, strong in the forwards, dynamic in the backs and with ‘winner’ written all over them. But Tony Ball’s boys in blue aren’t out of the woods yet.

Ian Fowler’s Cottesloe team, an unlucky seventh in 2008, slid in under the radar after a slow start to 2009 and steadily compiled a winning record that moved them into the top four. The Seagulls upset Palmyra 17-15 in round five, shredded Wanneroo 41-5 in round seven and bowled over Perth-Bayswater and Associates before slicing and dicing competition favourites Palmyra last Saturday.

That win moved them onto the top of the ladder, equal on points with Paly but ahead on percentage. With a big, solid pack and an opportunistic back line ably supported by goal kicking machine Dave Cloete, the Seagulls are composed and methodical performers set for their first finals appearance since 2005.

A big second half brought the Seagulls home over Palmyra last Saturday, but the 10-5 half time deficit was their own fault, Fowler said.

“They scored an intercept try, we didn’t execute very well and we turned a bit of ball over,” Fowler said.

“We had territorial advantage and we had wind advantage, we spent a lot of time down there and didn’t get a lot out of it. It was pretty tight.”

But the Seagulls cut loose in the second half by tightening up their ruck ball.

“I said to the boys at half time, we just have to keep possession,” Fowler said.

“We got our ruck game working , we got a bit of continuity, and got a few tries on the board.”

The win put the Seagulls in an ideal position heading for the finals.

“We’re equal first on points but it’s pretty tight. We’ve got Neddies and Wanneroo over the next couple of weeks so we can’t let off.

“But you can only get five points a week, so we’re pretty happy with the way we’ve gone.”

Fowler sees the Nedlands game as a major milestone in the Seagulls’ 2009 campaign.

“They’ve been on a roll for quite a while and we’ve been going OK so that’s probably a pretty big game in the scheme of things. And it’s over at their place as well.”

With fine weather predicted for Saturday, Nedlands' electrifying centre Zane Houia -- who was in a class of his own against Wanneroo -- will be a major danger for the Seagulls. But if the battle of two quality forward packs produces a tight game, Cloete's radar-guided boot might make the difference.

By contrast to Nedlands’ and Cottesloe’s momentum, the other two finals contenders -- Palmyra and Wanneroo – are looking less like the competition favourites they appeared earlier in the year. Palmyra’s miracle resurrection this season is in danger of rigor mortis after losing three of their last four games, and an injury-struck Wanneroo team appear unfocused and lethargic when they should be hitting their straps in the run-up to the finals.

Wanneroo at least should be back in the winner’s circle this week when they host a young Wests-Subiaco team at Kingsway. Wests might have their tails up after their first two wins of the season but it’s unlikely to be enough to upset the Roo-dogs, who should be furious after their lacklustre display last week.

Paly have a tougher assignment when they face fifth-placed Associates at Tompkins Park. Soaks have fallen from grace in no uncertain terms, losing five of their last seven games to drop out of the top four after leading the competition in the first half of the season. However, the Swanbourne club trail Neddies by just three points after last week’s win over Uni, and they will be desperate to climb over Palmyra on their way back into the top four should Cott beat Nedlands.

In other games, Kalamunda’s reign as premier is coming to an inglorious end in eighth place as they play ninth-placed University at McGillivray, and sixth-placed Perth-Bayswater and seventh-placed Rockingham will be vying for pride and principle only when they meet at Lark Hill.

http://rugbywa.com.au/news/article,56137.html