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WESTERN FORCE MEDIA RELEASE
Friday, 13 June 2014
Saturday, 14 June, 2014
Kick-off times:
First Grade: 3.30pm
Reserve Grade: 1.50pm
Good Life Under 19: 12.30pm
By Francis Curro
Match of the Round: Nedlands (2) v Cottesloe (1) at the Foreshore, Nedlands
Last time they met: Cottesloe 20 defeated Nedlands 15 at Harvey Field, Cottesloe
Cottesloe coach Ian Fowler said he has not had any trouble motivating his side for this Saturday’s top of the table clash against Nedlands at the Foreshore.
A serious rivalry between the two sides has formed over the past few seasons with Nedlands edging out Cottesloe 20-14 in the 2013 grand final. The Gulls got one back in Round Two this year with a 20-15 victory at Harvey Field.
“I think the team that can control possession, hangs onto the footy and develops some pressure over phases will win,” Fowler said.
“I think it’s going to be fairly tight. These are two very good defensive sides and not a lot of room around the rucks.
“It may take a special play out wide or an individual to get the breaks.”
The last time both these sides met, Alistair and Nick Haining both crossed for the Gulls to set up the victory. They have combined for a total of nine tries for the season so far.
Nedlands scrumhalf Michael Ruru is the leading try scorer in the competition with seven, while Cottesloe’s Nili Afeaki is second with six.
It’s not just their position on the ladder that proves these two teams are the best in the competition either. Cottesloe boasts the best attacking and defensive record in the competition, while Nedlands are the second in both categories.
With third place West Scarborough 14 points behind Nedlands in second, both Cottesloe and Nedlands are now focused on nailing down top spot on the ladder.
Nedlands coach Gus Martyn said the side would be buoyed by the return of a number of players from injury.
“These two teams have been the top two teams come the business end of the season for the past few years,” he said. “We are not too worried about what they do, we are focused on us and will try to perform on the day.”
Nedlands have made a few changes to their backing with Dylan Loversidge moving to inside centre and Ben Titoko starting at full back.
Cottesloe has also made changes to their backline with Ali Haining coming starting outside centre, while Mark Tuaati will start from left wing.
Nedlands: 1. Travis Church, 2. Jermaine Ainsley, 3. Lei Aholelie, 4. Tyler Edwards, 5. Scott Stevens, 6. Jandre van der Westhuizen, 7. Shane Hemi, 8. Richard Nailer, 9. Michael Ruru, 10. Davis Tavita, 11. Kuari Cudd, 12. Dylan Loversidge, 13. Ryan McLeod, 14. Cameron Crowley , 15.Ben Titoko
Cottesloe: 1. Shaun Nankervis, 2. Dan Reading, 3. Kaisa Reidy, 4. Tim Ryan 5. Kieran Stringer, 6. Adrian Hall, 7. Nick Haining, 8. Rory Crowhen, 9. Charl Nieuwenhuis, 10. Sam Heinemann, 11. Mark Tuaati, 12. AJ Abel, 13. Ali Haining, 14. Nili Afeaki, 15. Nate Howard
Referee: Graham Cooper
Wests Scarborough (3) v Palmyra (7) at Bennett Park, Scarborough
Last time they met: Wests Scarborough 25 defeated Palmyra 12 at Tompkins Park, Alfred Cove
With Nedlands and Cottesloe leading the charge for the top two positions, the battle for the final two places in the finals is starting to heat up.
Palmyra, currently on a five game losing streak has lost ground as they sit seventh on the ladder, but are still only seven points from West Scarborough in third place.
West Scarborough currently sit on 29 points, the same as UWA, but have a superior percentage.
This week Wests Scarborough has moved Conrad Gillingham to right wing, Maia King to left wing while Saula Fifita will come into the starting XV at inside centre.
Palmyra will have to win without leading try scorer Dylan Leyds who has been replaced with Sam Jurisich in the starting line-up.
Wests Scarborough: 1. Dylan Crawford, 2. DJ Ferris 3. Justin Terry, 4. Riley Winter, 5. Sam Steele, 6. Brad Griffiths, 7. Kane Koteka, 8. Lorenzo Devilliars, 9. Michael Marshall, 10. Sheldon Tarawa, 11. Maia King, 12. Saula Fifita, 13. Pierre Roberts, 14. Conrad Gillingham, 15. Chance Bunce
Palmyra: 1. Jimmy Tioke, 2. Shane Manu, 3. Conor Higgins, 4. Jarrod Menary, 5. Michael McMillan, 6.DaveMcGuian, 7. Gavin Armstrong, 8. Dylan Cunningham, 9. Brad Fell, 10. Sam Jurisich, 11. Tutere Waenga, 12. Vincent Booiman, 13 Hayden Baird, 14. Va’a Mailei, 15. Johnny Alston
Referee: Rob Kellam
Associates (6) v UWA (4) at Allen Park, Swanbourne
Last time they met: UWA 42 defeated Associates 31 at Allen Park, Swanbourne
Following two huge wins over Wanneroo and Perth-Bayswater, Associates have increased their chance of playing finals after a slow start to the season.
Associates are just two points off third place and with the third best percentage in the competition, they are in great shape coming into the run home.
UWA has had a strong last month, with just one loss to West Scarborough in their last four matches that also included thrashing Wanneroo by 74 points.
Associates welcome back Force-contracted player Phoenix Battye while star Dylan Sage will play at outside centre.
A win to either side could put them in third position of the ladder after 11 rounds.
UWA: 1. Nevin Mills, 2. Jason Vassilly, 3. Steve Miller, 4.Oscar Backhouse, 5. Tim Carlsaw, 6. Corey Thomas, 7. Richard Hardwick, 8. Jeremy Smith, 9. Ethan Carlisle, 10. Chris Setu., 11. Michael Lees, 12. Ben Taylo , 13. Joel Rapana, 14. Steve Chetovich, 15. Christian Joubert
Associates: 1. Arnauld Paradis-Hiare, 2. Esteban Bustillo, 3. Lachlan Stewart, 4. Lachlan Valentine, 5. Phoenix Battye, 6. Alex Rovira, 7. Michael Hardwick, 8. Woulter van der Merwe, 9. Justin Turner, 10. Chris Ashwin, 11. Sateleki Atiola, 12. Ammon Matuauto, 13. Dylan Sage, 14. Robbie Ingram, 15. Paul Howe
Referee: Alex Ninkov
Perth Bayswater (8) v Wanneroo (9) at Pat O’Hara Reserve, Morley
Last time they met: Perth Bayswater 20 defeated Wanneroo 5 at Kingsway Reserve, Landsdale
A dangerous Perth Bayswater will host Wanneroo for the right to hold aloft the Bill Watt Cup on Saturday.
Perth Bayswater have hit some mid-season form after being narrowly denied a win over top of the ladder Cottesloe in the last minute and drew with second place Nedlands the week before.
Perth Bayswater were robbed of their third win last weekend, after Cottesloe scored a try on the final whistle to tie the game up before Gulls kicker Charl Nieuwenhuis slotted the ball home for a win.
Perth Bayswater are an improving side and will look to use their pace and quick ball movement to score as many tries as possible and get their season back on track.
It has been a tough season for Wanneroo, they have scored just 82 points in their nine games and last week let in 78 points in a game against Kalamunda.
Perth Bayswater: 1. Adam Grant, 2. Chris Kidd, 3. Laione Mulikhaamea, 4. Jock Stanley, 5. Adam Ross (c), 6.Jason Neal, 7. Joel Winterburn, 8.Brent Murphy, 9. Curtis McLean, 10. Wynston Cameron-Dow, 11. Kolia Konelio, 12. Maulaga Konelia, 13. Dylan Timu, 14. Wayne Thompson, 15. Benjamin Keenan
Wanneroo: Not supplied
Referee: Matt O’Brien
BYE: Kalamunda
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Originally Posted by Buck
