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Well like the topic says it is Baysies vs Associates at Allen Park
Premiers Perth-Bayswater aim to continue Associates’ indifferent start to the season when they meet at Allen Park in the RugbyWA senior competition sponsored by KWIK Transport & Crane Hire match of the week on Saturday.
Associates promised much for the 2008 season, recruiting strongly over the summer to gain classy new players such as former Palmyra lock Mark Westcott, and goal kicker and inside centre Nigel Staniforth.
In 2007, Soaks fielded a traditionally strong forward pack and an exciting young back line that made up for in enthusiasm what it lacked in experience. However, inconsistent results early in the season left them with too much ground to make up later in the year and the Swanbourne club finished outside the top four.
History may be repeating this year as the club’s performance in the early weeks has provided more questions than answers for coach Steve McFarland.
Against a rejuvenated Wests-Subiaco team, the lead changed several times in a fluctuating game that finished as a 32-all draw. It wasn’t the start the club was looking for but the potential was clearly obvious.
An impressive 46-3 thrashing of the unpredictable University club followed, combining solid forward work with dazzling counter-attacking skills. After the game, McFarland was looking for further improvements but the indications were all positive.
However, a 20-11 loss to Wanneroo last week derailed Soaks’ promising start and had McFarland heading back to the drawing board to rebuild his team’s damaged confidence.
A confrontation with premiers Perth-Bayswater may not be the best circumstances to attempt this task.
The Morley club, guided by wily Kiwi coach John Taylor, started their season with the narrowest of losses, 19-18 against perennial heavyweights Nedlands. Fielding ten new players, the premiers struggled to find form in the first half and were 19-8 down at half time. However, Perth-Bayswater staged a late charge that would have won the game but for unfortunate circumstances that forced the team to rely on their third-string goal kicker, missing a series of kickable goals.
Since then, Perth-Bayswater have looked the team to beat, accounting for Cottesloe 24-14 and thrashing a depleted Palmyra 50-15.
Perth-Bayswater’s forward pack is not as fearsome as it was, but the back line has been reinforced with attacking firepower in line with Taylor’s plans to fully utilise the experimental laws being trialled in the club competition this year.