0
Associates welcome Palmyra to Allen Park on Saturday night under lights for a rematch of their round 3 draw in the RugbyWA competition game of the week, sponsored by KWIK Transport and Crane Hire.
As well as establishing bragging rights between the two clubs for the first time in 2010, the match is of vital interest to the competition as the race to the finals intensifies in the second half of the season.
The two clubs are locked on 38 points each in the competition table, Palmyra claiming third place by virtue of a superior percentage.
Both teams are a game clear of fifth-placed Kalamunda and a win on Saturday will give one of the teams clear third place, although with six games to follow there is plenty of scope for movement before the finals start on 21 August.
Both teams are travelling well as the second half of the season opens.
Palmyra, grand finalists in 2009, are enjoying a mid-year resurgence as their new team gels after early wobbles under new coach John Taylor. A healthy win over still-dangerous Wanneroo and a draw with premiers Cottesloe was followed by a close and slightly unlucky 12-10 loss to competition pace-setters Nedlands.
Benefiting from a stronger forward pack than last year, Palmyra have the potential to be a very well-balanced unit, fielding standout players such as number eight Anare Koliavu, flyhalf Eruera Haimona and centre Maia King. Guided by the experienced and wily Taylor, they have every chance of becoming increasingly threatening as their combinations develop towards the business end of the competition.
By contrast, Associates have assumed Cottesloe’s 2009 mantle as the quiet achievers of the season. They started slow with one win from their first four games but crept steadily up the table as the season progressed, stunning premiers Cottesloe with a 17-11 defeat in round 7. They entered the top four shortly after and now have seven consecutive wins under their belt.
Soaks have a steady and competent team rather than a collection of stars. Their light but cohesive forward pack is led by veterans Adam New at hooker and Damien Elton at prop, and bolstered by new Irish prop Ricky Lutton. The back line is missing flyhalf Kyle Godwin and centre Nathan Cummins through injury but still has quality performers such as exciting fullback Zac Holmes backed up by proven club players such as experienced utility Hugh Norcross.
Under no-nonsense former club and state number eight Anthony “Bear” Brain, Soaks are an honest team of unpretentious toilers who thrive on team spirit and traditional club values and may be planning on being under-estimated right up until they slip under the radar and into the finals.
“I’ve been very impressed with the guys this year,” Brain said.
“It’s not something you can coach. It’s a resolve and a will to do well.
“We’ve won seven in a row, and we’ve done pretty well considering the number of players we’ve gone through.
“We’re happy to be in the four but we were disappointed to drop the first game against Kalamunda, and come away with a draw against Palmyra after leading 19-6.
“We’re not in a comfortable position.”
The team has battled a torrid injury toll this season but maintains continuity through running its first and second grades as a squad.
“We’ve had 40 players appear for first grade this season,” Brain said.
“But players have been able to step up and concentrate on the job rather than learning a whole new set of calls.”
Brain emphasises the importance of the Palmyra game and is aiming Soaks squarely at a win.
“We’re fourth on percentage and this game is really an eight point turnaround,” Brain said.
“We want to keep in touch with that vital second spot, and a double bite of the cherry. That’s something we’re still vying for.”
Brain is expecting a torrid game from two teams significantly improved from the round 3 draw.
“We’ve definitely got a bit more depth in the backs, and the guys are starting to understand our patterns and what we’re trying to do,” Brain said.
“We’ve had a look at all the other teams now and we can devise our plans specifically for each team.
“We’ve identified a few things with Palmyra that we didn’t have the advantage of in the first round, and we’ll be adapting our game plan to attack in some areas where we think we can put some pressure on their defence.
“We’re a lighter team but we still got to the physical challenge with Palmyra and I think that rattled them somewhat in that first game. There was a good resolve and a fearlessness from our guys in defence that Palmyra might have a bit more respect for now.
“That might make it bit harder for us now and I’m expecting another physical game.”
In other games, fifth-placed Kalamunda need a win over eighth-placed University at McGillivray Oval if they are to stay in touch with the top four, and there will be some interest in how much progress Wests-Subiaco have made this season when they host front-runners Nedlands at Rosalie Park.
Wanneroo’s fighting loss last week showed they still have an outside chance but they have a lot of ground to make up from a distant sixth place, and wooden spooners Perth-Bayswater provide a likely place to start in their match at Pat O'Hara Reserve.
Finally, second-placed reigning premiers Cottesloe will be expecting equally little resistance when they travel south to play ninth-placed Rockingham at Lark Hill.
by Rick Boyd
http://rugbywa.com.au/news/article,58571.html
Reply With Quote
