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A strong second half by pacesetters Nedlands earned them a 32-19 win over a competitive Wanneroo at Sir Charles Court Reserve in today’s RugbyWA competition match of the round sponsored by KWIK Transport & Crane Hire.
Belying their lowly sixth place in the competition, the Roo-dogs were in the match right to the end and had a fair share of play throughout, and may yet figure in the business end of the competition if they can iron out a few wrinkles.
For Nedlands it was a somewhat improved performance from their handling afflictions last week against Palmyra, but they still conceded too many penalties and unforced errors to meet their usual standard.
Wanneroo led 14-12 at half time in an even first half where Nedlands had the better of the set pieces and took their opportunities only to see the Roo-dogs snatch the lead with two tries in the last five minutes, including an intercept.
Wanneroo powered into the opening minutes and pressured Nedlands into errors in their 22. They were opportunities wasted for the Roo-dogs however, failing to score from a penalty scrum, losing the throw in on a penalty lineout and flanker Winston Cameron-Dow eventually missing a reasonably easy penalty goal from in front after nine minutes.
Neddies had no problems with the reply, rucking downfield for halfback Nathan Roberts to take a quick tap penalty in Wanneroo's 22 and scamper over for a try. Flyhalf Mike Denton converted from a sharp angle for a 7-0 lead to the home side after 13 minutes.
There was plenty of cut and thrust at both ends of the ground as penalties and turnovers gave both teams ample opportunities. First Nedlands came close to scoring in the corner on an overlap and then Wanneroo went over in the corner but were called back for offside.
From the penalty Nedlands worked back downfield and wing Alvin Lau finished off a breakout attack with a 30 metre sprint down the sideline for a try in the corner after 26 minutes. The sideline conversion failed but the home side took a healthy 12-0 lead showing that while there was plenty of two-way traffic on the field, only one side was finishing.
That turned around four minutes before half time when Wanneroo threw to the front of an attacking lineout in Nedlands' 22 and thumped away at their line with heavy forward work in the corner, then spun the ball wide where flyhalf Sam Wills offloaded in the tackle and Cameron-Dow shot into the line on the angle to score under the bar. Cameron-Dow converted his try from in front.
Three minutes later Nedlands raced downfield on attack, an immediate reply looking imminent, when Wanneroo centre Ammon Matuauto nabbed an interception and sprinted 65 metres to score between the posts.
Cameron-Dow converted his second sitter in a row to steal a surprise 14-12 half time lead and set up an enthralling second half battle.
The second half continued with fluid ebb and flow but Wanneroo's obsession with running the blind on attack usually lost them possession and let Nedlands turn the game their way. The home side hammered Wanneroo's line for six minutes until ref Daelyn Waetford awarded a penalty in front of the sticks and Denton kicked the goal to sneak Nedlands back in front 15-14 after 15 minutes.
Wanneroo errors continued, a midfield knock-on immediately after stealing a Nedlands lineout allowing the Royal Blues to storm downfield where they set up an unusal move using prop Joe Richie as the midfield distributor to lock Callum Sauer, who rammed his way through for a try out wide after 20 minutes.
The conversion missed but two minutes later Neddies broke out again, this time flanker Tane Edwards acting as the strike weapon to sprint 30 metres for the try. Denton converted from a difficult angle as the competition leaders took control 27-14.
Nedlands continued to dominate with quick raids compounded by Wanneroo errors but the Roo-dogs broke loose and surged downfield to assault the Royal Blues' line. Nedlands lost lock James Cullimore to the sin bin for a cynical infringement in the defensive battle but Neddies kicked clear, only for the Roo-dogs to regroup and attack the corner, blindside flanker Craig Archer sliding up to the corner and placing the ball over the line for the try after 34 minutes.
The conversion missed but at 27-19 there was a chance and Wanneroo attacked desperately as time ran out but Neddies worked downfield patiently despite a few last spirited surges from the Roo-dogs. In their desperation Wanneroo knocked on in the last minute of play and Neddies counter-attacked, number eight Richie Naylor barrelling over in the corner for the final nail in the coffin. Denton’s conversion attempt from the sideline missed but the full time whistle followed immediately, and Nedlands claimed a win that was closer than the scoreboard suggests and probably tougher than they expected.
Full results from the round as follows;
KWIK Premier Grade: Cottesloe 34 bt Perth Bayswater 24, Associates 30 bt UWA 20, Palmyra 29 bt Wests Subiaco 23, Nedlands 32 bt Wanneroo 19, Kalamunda 32 bt Rockingham 18.
Reserve Grade: Cottesloe 26 bt Perth Bayswater 8, Associates 52 bt UWA 25, Palmyra 40 bt Wests Subiaco 26, Nedlands 37 bt Wanneroo 20, Kalamunda 114 bt Rockingham 0.
Under 20’s: Cottesloe 25 bt UWA 0, Wanneroo 63 bt Curtin Uni 0, Associates 48 bt Palmyra 3, Kalamunda 38 bt Nedlands 7.
Under 18’s: Cottesloe 20 bt Perth Bayswater 17, Mandurah 33 bt Associates 16, Kalamunda 31 bt Southern Lions 14.
3rd Grade Black: Cottesloe 58 bt Perth Bayswater 0, Associates 28 bt UWA 19, Wests Subiaco 17 bt Palmyra 0, Nedlands 96 bt Wanneroo 7.
3rd Grade Gold: Arks 26 bt Mandurah 0, Bunbury 31 bt Joondalup 3, Southern Lions 17 bt Curtin Uni 3.
4th Grade Black: Perth Bayswater 20 bt Cottesloe 18, UWA 59 bt Associates 7, Wests Subiaco 41 bt Palmyra 14, Nedlands 69 bt Wanneroo 7.
4th Grade Gold: Arks 26 bt Mandurah 8, Joondalup 5 bt Bunbury 0, Southern Lions 18 bt Curtin Uni 5.
4th Grade Blue: Associates 50 bt UWA 9, Rockingham 21 bt Cottesloe 19, Nedlands 30 bt Midland 10.
Women's: Perth Bayswater 24 bt Cottesloe 0, Kalamunda 29 bt Wanneroo 22.
By Rick Boyd for RugbyWA
http://rugbywa.com.au/news/article,58546.html
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