The big guns shoot it out on Saturday when Wanneroo host Nedlands at Kingsway and Palmyra travel to Harvey Field to play Cottesloe, in a probable finals preview for the WA club rugby competition, sponsored by KWIK Cane and Transport Hire.

Finals regulars Nedlands have made hard work of the 2009 season, and had just two wins to their name seven games into the competition. But since then coach Tony Ball and his team have come good, winning six straight games despite losing most of their first-string back line to injury.

Closing out marginal games has become the team’s signature finish, clinching one point wins over competition leaders Palmyra and bogey team Associates before last week’s tough victory over reigning premiers Kalamunda propelled the Royal Blues into the top four five weeks before the finals.

But now the going gets tough for Neddies with games against second-placed Wanneroo and third-placed Cottesloe over consecutive weekends. With Associates nipping at their heels just three points below them on the competition table, Neddies must maintain their momentum or risk a very short tenure in the top four.

Wanneroo’s motivation is not so much to maintain the momentum as regain it. After their shock 41-5 upset by Cottesloe in round seven, the Roo-dogs have had a few wobbles, losing to Palmyra, struggling to defeat ninth-placed Kalamunda and looking less than convincing against several mid-table sides.

The two teams met in round five, Nedlands gaining a rare win, 21-17 over a lethargic, error-prone Wanneroo.

The season’s two big improvers, Palmyra and Cottesloe, should provide a few answers about likely finals form when they meet at Harvey Field on Saturday.

Since their unexpected 41-5 boilover loss to Kalamunda in round 9, the Seagulls have cruised to a series of impressive wins including last week’s 30-10 win over Soaks that dumped the Swanbourne club from the top four.

Front-runners Palmyra have taken the competition by storm this season after finishing dead last in 2008, but last week’s upset loss to Rockingham brought them back to earth.

The clear margin Paly had established at the top of the table has vaporised and they now share a record of ten wins and three losses with Wanneroo and Cottesloe. With two losses from their last three games and increasing points conceded against mid-table teams, Paly’s focus appears to be wavering and the Seagulls must fancy their chances of continuing the psychological advantage from their last gasp 17-15 win in round five.

In other games, Kalamunda play Rockingham at Hartfield, and Associates have a chance to step back into the top four, if Nedlands should lose, when they meet University at McGillivray Oval, but the under-rated students may not be co-operative after their loss to wooden-spoon contenders Wests-Subiaco last week. And at Rosalie Park, sixth-placed Perth-Bayswater retain slim hopes of making the four after an erratic season when they meet Wests-Subiaco at Rosalie Park.

http://rugbywa.com.au/news/article,56080.html