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By RugbyWA Media
Contributors: Josh Zimmerman
After a frantic final few rounds of KWIK Premier Grade action Cottesloe and Associates managed to grab the hotly contested third and fourth spots to book a place in the playoffs and now face each other in a do or die minor semi-final at Pat O’Hara Reserve on Sunday.
Associates return to the Morley ground on a three game winning streak and with the memory of their 47 - 34 hammering of Perth Bayswater at the same ground in round 17 fresh on their minds. For Cottesloe, memories of Pat O’Hara are more unpleasant – the Seagulls lost 26 – 24 to Baysie in round 9 during a mid-season slump that saw the club lose five on the trot.
Since then however Cottesloe have been the talking point of the competition, winning their last eight straight to rise from eighth at the end of round 10 to eventually finish third.
“I’m obviously very happy with our run to the finals,” said Cottesloe Coach Ian Fowler.
“We needed to win the last eight because we were a fair way behind at the half way mark.
“I think maybe early on we just thought it was just going to happen for us and when it wasn't happening the guys decided we needed to work a bit harder both individually and as a group.
“We've also got a pretty young squad and we lost a few senior players early on in the season and it took some time to gel.
“We got a few players back ahead of the Nedlands game in round 10 and that gave us a bit of experience and we were able to close some games out which we struggled to do earlier in the season.
In the two matches between these sides so far this year the honours have been split – Associates beat Cottesloe 36 – 8 at Allen Park in round 6 before a much more physical Seagulls side muscled Soaks off the ball in a 20 – 8 win at Harvey field in round 15.
Unsurprisingly Fowler believes that the battle of the breakdown will once again be the deciding factor in this game.
“Before the last game against Soaks a few weeks ago we spoke about matching their intensity at the breakdown and again that'll be a key to the game,” he said.
“If we can win the breakdown or get parity at the breakdown we'll be in a pretty good place.”
Cottesloe will be missing two of its main contributors in Jonny O’Connor (dislocated shoulder) and hulking prop Ollie Hoskins who has been called up to play for the Australian U19’s in Sydney this weekend.
“Obviously an opportunity for Ollie to play for Australia is something he can't pass up but hopefully we can get over the line and both him and Jonny can come back and play next week,” said Fowler.
Associates must enter the game as underdogs given Cottesloe’s remarkable recent form but Soaks Coach Ryan Parkin believes the Swanbourne side are up for the challenge.
“It’s a good winning streak but it is all water under the bridge now,” Parkin said.
“I’m sure they’ll be confident in their systems but we just view this as a great opportunity to end their winning streak this weekend.”
Parkin agrees with Fowler’s assessment of the ruck being one of the key areas of this match but also singled out the Seagulls dangerous flyhalf Dave Cloete as a particular threat.
“As always the battle at the breakdown will have a significant influence on the outcome,” Parkin said.
“They have threats across the paddock but Dave is obviously a great player and a big part of their setup and we’ll have to be wary of him.”
Associates secured a finals berth with a last minute 23 – 20 come from behind win over University and Parkin believes they will need to show the same grit in the playoffs.
“The side showed a lot of resolve and managed to hang in there when we were down to 14 men on two separate occasions against UWA,” he said.
“There is a great spirit and belief in the team at the moment which is an essential attribute come finals time.
“There are always a few lingering niggles but the starting 15 is at full strength for this weekend and we’re looking forward to Sunday.”
The match will be played at Pat O’Hara Reserve (Morley) on Sunday, 21 August – kick off 4.00pm.
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