An intriguing confrontation looms as Associates, the form team in the second half the KWIK Premier Grade season, meet reigning premiers Cottesloe in Saturday’s Preliminary Final at Hartfield. These western suburbs neighbours will be anything but friendly as they lay it on the line with a grand final place awaiting the winner.
The KWIK Transport and Crane Hire competition has seen many twists and turns in 2010. Cottesloe topped the competition table until the final week of play and for the majority of the season were playing an imperious style of winning rugby while Soaks struggled up the middle rankings.

However the Seagulls go into this contest as underdogs, desperately needing to rediscover their cohesion and purpose for a last ditch match against the competition’s form team.

While Cottesloe lost two games and drew another in the second half of the season, Associates lost just one and came within a few percentage points of grabbing Cott’s place in the top two.

Soaks coach Anthony Brain dismissed his side’s favouritism but acknowledge they’re in good shape at the right time of the season.

“Certainly the guys have managed to stick together and win some of those close games towards the end of the season,” he said.

And head to head this year the honours are all Associates’ way; 17-11 in round seven and 17-9 in round 16, but Brain does not see this as relevant.

“It doesn’t really matter what happened during the season,” Brain said.

“The finals are a different kettle of fish, it’s back to square one."

Cottesloe’s powerful forward pack has strangled teams all year to set-up ace kicker Dave Cloete with match winning shots at goal – but not against Soaks. In both their games Associates’ pack of unsung heroes and honest toilers has dominated territory and possession to frustrate, harass and hassle Cottesloe’s big eight down the wrong end of the ground.

And that’s exactly what they will need to do again.

Brain has struggled all year with an ever-changing back line due to injury but finals are notoriously won by tight, defensive teams, and Soaks must aim to continue their forward domination and keep Cottesloe out of sorts and off balance. If they score tries along the way, it will be a bonus.

“We’ve got to have a pretty focused pack,” Brain said.

“We’re one of the smaller packs going around but what we lack in size we make up for in tenacity.

“We talk about winning the key areas, and obviously the most important area is the breakdown.”

Brain is also aware of the danger posed by Cloete’s boot.

“Our discipline has been pretty good, I think,” he said.

“It’s something we’re always mindful of, whether it’s a finals game or in a round.”

Cottesloe’s job is tougher. The team that looked so polished at the start of the season were awkward, disjointed and struggled for continuity in last week’s major semi-final, a resounding loss to Nedlands 29-11.

A rejigged backline which had Cloete back at flyhalf and Emirates Western Force utility Mark Bartholomeuz at inside centre did not function smoothly. Coach Ian Fowler needs to either return the back line to its former structure, or hope they manage major improvement, very quickly.

The Cottesloe forwards gained enough possession against Nedlands for scoring opportunities that might have won the game, but only just. They need to stand up and be counted this weekend in a big way.

Soaks won their place in the preliminary final with a close 22-17 minor semi-final win over Palmyra at Lark Hill, but had to come from behind in the last ten minutes to clinch the game.

“It was a close one, we could have lost it,” Brain said.

“The guys didn’t carry on too much after the game. They all thought they could have played better.

“We stuck to our game plan and structures, we controlled the game but somehow found ourselves behind with ten minutes to go.

“But the guys showed good composure, didn’t throw silly passes, recycled the ball, built the pressure and the points came.

“You have to look after the ball, especially in finals where everyone’s up for the defence.”

Associates finished sixth in 2008 and fifth last year, but Brain is adamant they are not about to settle for a place in the preliminary final in 2010.

“Making the final is one thing, it’s a goal you want to tick,” Brain said.

“But the ultimate goal is to make the grand final, take that out and win the premiership.

“We’re not looking that far ahead right now, it’s one week at a time, the guys want to win this weekend and make the grand final.”

Soaks go into the game virtually injury free, apart from flyhalf and captain Mike Rovira who has been replaced by talented young pivot Kyle Goodwin.

by Rick Boyd | RugbyWA