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By RugbyWA Media
Contributors: Josh Zimmerman
Two teams on a quest for redemption collide this weekend when University take on Cottesloe in the KWIK Premier Grade Preliminary Final at Tompkins Park on Saturday.
Although both coaches are adamant that their focus is solely on this weekend's match up, each of these sides has a score to settle with minor premiers Nedlands and would love nothing more than an opportunity to do just that in next weekend's Grand Final.
University were humiliated by Nedlands in a 64 – 13 spanking at Hartfield Park in the major semi-final last weekend while Cottesloe’s 37 – 29 loss to the Royal Blues in the 2010 decider still stings the Seagulls.
Although the pain of last weekend’s result is still fresh in his mind, University Coach Steve McFarland insists his only concern lies with this weekend's opponents.
“Last week is over and done with, whether we'd lost by one point or by fifty we'd still be playing this game so we've just got to move forward and we're looking at this match as a good opportunity to do just that,” McFarland said.
“Obviously we've had a look at the DVD (of the Nedlands game) and there were areas that we were not particularly good at on Saturday and we've tried to address those during the course of the week at training.
“We've just got to go out and concentrate and make sure we play the kind of rugby we're capable of and the kind of rugby we've been playing all season.
“As I've said all season, if you look after the small things the result looks after itself.”
In the last meeting between these sides, which was just three weeks ago in week 17, Cottesloe beat University 34 – 24 to secure its seventh consecutive win and keep it's finals hopes alive.
After a nine match unbeaten streak which has come under the pressure of knowing there would be no second chances, Cottesloe Coach Ian Fowler said his side is well accustomed to the pressure of playing for survival.
“We're feeling pretty good about this weekend,” Fowler said.
“It's been a pretty similar preparation to the last few weeks, we've been in this situation for a while now so the guys are pretty comfortable with the elimination style of rugby that we find ourselves in.”
Cottesloe has been on the verge of elimination since week 10 when a mid-season slump saw it slip all the way to eighth on the ladder but since then has rebounded to record an astonishing run that saw them finish third, just two points shy of second placed Uni.
Despite having played in what has essentially been knock out games since week 11, Fowler does not believe his side holds any kind of mental advantage over University who are back in finals action for the first time in two decades and were clearly overawed in the semis last weekend.
“Once you get in to that do or die situation you always start to work harder so I don't think their lack of experience will make much difference,” said Fowler.
“They'll just put last week's result out of their minds.
“They've had a lot of success during the year, they didn't finish second by mistake they've played good rugby and they'll just go back to what's worked for them during the year.
“We're expecting them to come out really hard and try to get on the front foot early
“They haven't had the greatest run the last few weeks so they'll want to try and get on the front foot from the outset and we'll be ready for that.”
Although both sides are absorbed in the preparation for this weekend's game, the prospect of a Grand Final match-up against Nedlands is an enticing prize.
“There are a lot of scores to settle,” Fowler said.
“Nedlands were too good for us last year and hopefully we'll get another crack at them.
“But we're not worried about that at the moment, we've got to get past a really good University side first.”
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