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By RugbyWA Media
Contributors: Josh Zimmerman
Cottesloe vs Associates
Harvey Field – 3.30pm
First Round: Associates 36 – 8 Cottesloe
Four weeks ago Cottesloe were down and out, languishing in eighth and having lost their last five games it appeared that the season was over for 2010's runner up. Fast forward a month and the Seagulls are flying high.
After dispatching Palmyra 32 – 9 last weekend Cott can now lay claim to four successive wins and have climbed to fifth spot on the ladder - just three points out of a playoff place.
With only four rounds remaining there is plenty on the line come Saturday, a win could elevate them to third should they beat Associates.
Soaks are currently third with 39 points and have mounted a revival of their own after an indifferent middle part of the season.
The Swanbourne side have also won four on the trot, including the prized scalp of competition leaders Nedlands in round 12, while their most recent victory was a 72 – 0 thumping of Kalamunda.
Every competition point is precious in the 2011 KWIK Premier Grade and both sides will be desperate to secure a win. What a month ago appeared near impossible, a spot in the top four, now beckons for Cottesloe while Associates can put some distance between themselves and the other playoff hopefuls with a win in this one.
Wests Subiaco vs Kalamunda
Rosalie – 3.30pm
First round: Kalamunda 26 – 37 Wests Subiaco
Wests Subiaco has been wobbly of late losing three of their last five and most recently capitulating 13 – 18 at home to Rockingham. They have been competitive in each of those losses however and also beat Nedlands in the same time span and will be confident of holding on to fourth (currently on 39 points) and possibly claiming third when they host Kalamunda this weekend.
The Bulls have not won in six games and were absolutely hammered by Associates, for the second time this year, last time out. Kalamunda have the unfortunate distinction of being the first team mathematically ruled out of playing finals football in 2011 and must now turn their attention to avoiding the wooden spoon and restoring some pride ahead of next year.
Palmyra vs Wanneroo
Tompkins Park – 3.30pm
First round: Wanneroo 16 – 31 Palmyra
Another important game in terms of the playoff picture and both of these sides will be desperate to bounce back from disappointing losses on the weekend.
Palmyra appeared totally out of sorts against a much more organised and efficient Cottesloe while Wanneroo was leading University in the closing stages of the game when two late yellow cards allowed UWA to sneak home 32 – 30.
Wanneroo are now seventh on 34 points and will know that another loss here will see them fall at least a game and a half behind the top four with tough match ups with Cottesloe and Wests Subiaco in the coming weeks.
Palmyra is sixth with 35 points and also can’t afford to lose this weekend – which would be their third in a row. In Paly's favour is the fact that they are playing at home and have not dropped more than two games at in succession all year.
University vs Perth Bayswater
McGillivray Oval – 3.30pm
First round: Perth Bayswater 33 – 27 University
Second placed University (47) appear to be developing a talent for winning close games after recording their second two point victory in as many weeks with a late fight back against Wanneroo.
Perth Bayswater meanwhile was courageous in defeat going down 10 – 22 to Nedlands.
Uni now enjoy an eight point buffer between themselves and next best sides Associates and Wests Subiaco and will do all they can to hold on to that advantage ahead of their tricky run home against Rocky, Cott and Soaks.
The Students finished eighth in 2010 and are without a doubt 2011's biggest risers having lost only once since round seven, that defeat coming (narrowly) at the hands of Nedlands.
Perth Bayswater has fallen away considerably since their strong start to the season but can at least take heart from the fact that they are massively improved on their one win 2010.
They will also be encouraged by the fact that they beat University back in round six and so have an understanding of what needs to be done to win against them. Claiming the scalp of one of the competition's form sides would do wonders for Baysie's confidence and could make them very dangerous in the last three rounds.
Nedlands vs Rockingham
The Foreshore – 3.30pm
First round: Rockingham 19 – 18 Nedlands
The first meeting between theses sides produced one of the upsets of the season with unfancied Rocky grinding out a one point win in their own backyard against, at the time, an unbeaten Neddies outfit.
This time around Rockingham is travelling to Nedlands’ playground and you can be sure that the Royal Blues will be determined to return the favour against Rocky.
While most of the attention has been on the other finals contenders scrambling for the spots below them, Nedlands have continued to quietly go about their business winning four of their last five to remain on top of the ladder with 56 points – nine better than their closest rival.
This is a big game for Rockingham who, with wins over Nedlands, Wests Subiaco and Associates, have proven this year that they have what it takes to compete with the more established sides and just lack the consistency to be dangerous week in and week out.
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Originally Posted by mudskipper
