Heartbroken premiers Kalamunda won everywhere but on the scoreboard to suffer an agonising 24-22 loss to competition leaders Associates at Hartfield today, in the Rugby WA club competition sponsored by KWIK Crane and Transport Hire.

Leading 22-17, the premiers gained a penalty and were told by referee Warren Lynch that there was 40 seconds on the clock. They opted for a scrum, held on to the ball and kicked for the line, a well-deserved win theirs for the taking.

But the clearing kick missed touch and Soaks ran back, gaining a free kick with seconds on the clock. The competition leaders tapped and ran, blindside flanker Jason Missen crashing through desperate defence to score in the corner and draw 22-22. With ice-cold nerves, evergreen prop Damien Elton steered the sideline conversion perfectly between the uprights as the Soaks sideline erupted into grand final-like celebration.

For the Bulls it was desperate disappointment after their beefed-up forward pack dominated in the loose and their premiership-winning back line showed some of its old cut and thrust to lead 22-10 with three quarters of the game played.

Kalamunda played the game with enormous passion but not always with finesse, conceding two yellow cards and a red. In the end, the Bulls’ lack of recent wining style proved their downfall, lapsing into a series of errors and penalties, and missing composure in the closing stages to allow a patient and fit Soaks team to steal the game at the death.

Kalamunda dominated early possession and attacked with great enthusiasm but little achievement, and Soaks came back to control territory as an even tussle took the game through the first twenty.
The Bulls lost number 8 Matenga Hapi to the sin bin for tackling a player without the ball as the Soaks forwards kept the pressure on in Kalamunda's 22 but basic errors from both sides, and Kalamunda's fierce defence, kept the game scoreless.

The Bulls suffered again when fullback Dion Berryman was yellow carded for joining a scuffle following a Soaks high tackle, and to add insult to injury the penalty was reversed and Soaks prop Damien Elton kicked the 40 metre goal to draw first blood at 3-0 after 24 minutes.

But Kalamunda kept focus and when their players returned from the bin, dominated the closing minutes of the half with the help of numerous Soaks errors. Eventually Berryman found a gap following a free kick and handed out to wing Dave Kara for a try in the corner minutes before half time.

A penaly for offside in front of the posts gifted the Bulls with extra points when flyhalf Kane Allen kicked the goal and took the home side into the break 8-3 ahead.

Kalamunda's lead was short-lived, Soaks fullback Zack Holmes runnning wide from the kick off to completely bamboozle the Bulls' defence, cutting up three defenders on his 60 metre sprint to the line. His touchdown behind the posts reduced Elton's conversion to a formality and Soaks grabbed the lead 10-8.

Kalamunda were all energy in response, attacking Soaks line from a knock on, and when the ball came blind from a ruck Kara shot down the sideline for an aerial one-handed try in the corner. Allen booted the sideline conversion and Kalamunda were back in front 15-10 after six minutes.

Kalamunda stayed on top with strong forward play and Soaks lost halfback Justin Turner to the sin bin for a high tackle, then after 19 minutes Bulls halfback Aaron Murphy shot through average defence from the base of a ruck to dive over under the bar. Allen converted the sitter and the home side went ahead 22-10, finally looking like premiers while Soaks played like underdogs.

Soaks broke out briefly but declined their second sitter penalty chance for a tap, only to knock on and see Kalamunda counter-attack back downfield.

With time running out the Bulls hampered their efforts with several penalties, back-chatting referee Lynch to give Soaks extra space for a surprise tap and run that shot Missen down the sideline for a try in the corner. Elton added a booming sideline conversion to set up a cliffhanger 22-17 finish with five minutes to play.

With the pressure on, Kalamunda again gave Soaks a leg up with repealed penalties, Berryman earning a red card with minutes on the clock. His presence was badly missed in the final moments as Kalamunda snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

At Kingsway, Wanneroo crashed to a stunning 41-5 loss to fifth-placed Cottesloe.

In other games, Nedlands plunged to further depths with a 24-17 loss to Rockingham at Lark Hill, unsung heroes University gained reward for a determined season with an upset 21-18 win over Perth-Bayswater at McGillivray Oval, and bolters Palmyra grabbed second place with a 58-13 win over Wests-Subiaco at Thompkins Park.

http://rugbywa.com.au/news/article,55830.html