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Cottesloe came from behind to grind down Wanneroo 23-15 at Harvey Field today, leapfrogging them into second place in the WA club rugby competition, sponsored by KWIK Crane and Transport Hire.
The loss dropped Wanneroo to fourth place, but with a solid game today and a raft of injured players due to return, the Roo-dogs will be competitive finalists.
For the Seagulls, a gritty second half comeback in typical Cottesloe weather paid tribute to their composure and patience in adversity, after they trailed a dominant Wanneroo 15-8 at half time.
Wanneroo pressured Cottesloe with multiple phases early but the Seagulls kicked clear, and four minutes in flyhalf Dave Cloete slotted a simple 30 metre penalty goal for offside.
But the Roo-dogs went back onto attack and three minutes later halfback Troy Doughty narrowly missed a drop goal from the middle of the park on advantage, and referee James Sherriff awarded a penalty from in front. Doughty popped that over to draw even at 3-3.
The Roo-dogs continued dominating territory and pressuring the Seagulls in their 22. From a free kick after 16 minutes Wanneroo fullback Koiaty Koiatu came onto the wing and kicked for the corner, following up to touch down centimetres from touch in goal for a skilful try. Doughty's sideline kick shaved the uprights but Wanneroo went ahead 8-3.
Eight minutes later, Wanneroo were in again when an ill-directed chip kick by Cottesloe's wide defence was gratefully accepted by Koiatu again on the wing and he sprinted 35 metres for a try in the same corner. Doughty added the sideline conversion for good measure and the Roo-dogs shot ahead 15-3.
Stung into action, Cottesloe raised the tempo and when a cutting Cloete run gave them attacking ball on Wanneroo's line, they hit up a couple of phases then went blind where number eight Matt Aitken charged over unopposed on the half hour.
Cloete missed the difficult conversion and Wanneroo closed out the half strongly, peppering the home side’s defence with high kicks to take the 15-8 lead into the break.
Cottesloe coach Ian Fowler must have had a few pointed comments to make at half time as Cottesloe fired into the second spell, dominating territory and allowing Cloete to boot an angled 30 metre penalty after six minutes when Wanneroo failed to retreat ten metres, closing the gap to 15-11.
Cottesloe had the better of territory as the half unfolded but it was a fluid affair with plenty of kicking up and down the field. Then from a penalty lineout after 20 minutes, Cottesloe launched waves of attack that culminated in Wanneroo losing a player to the sin bin after consecutive ruck offences. Cloete kicked the goal at point blank range and the game was on a knife edge at 15-14 with 15 minutes to play.
Cott kept the pressure on and Cloete kicked an angled penalty for obstruction on the 22 to sneak ahead 17-15 with 12 minutes on the clock.
Cottesloe did what they do best as the coastal gale started to sweep across Harvey Field, driving play back into the clubrooms corner with crossfield kicks and heavy forward work. Cloete showed his home ground expertise with eight minutes to play, nailing a tricky kick from out wide across the wind for a perfectly judged penalty goal for a slight safety margin at 20-15.
Another penalty kick followed just before full time after a high tackle, as Cott ground out the 23-15 win with home ground composure.
In other games, the young Wests-Subiaco team's late season revival continued when they ran competition leaders Palmyra close before losing 20-14 at Rosalie Park, Nedlands moved up to third place with a tough 25-17 win over Rockingham at Sir Charles Court Reserve, Associates lost all but mathematical hopes of a finals place with their 29-10 loss to Kalamunda at Allen Park, while Perth-Bayswater gained revenge for their round eight loss to University by beating them 27-18 at Pat O'Hara Reserve
by Rick Boyd
http://rugbywa.com.au/news/article,56188.html
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