Soaks hammer Baysie

[bruce]

I'm sure this will be pleasing news for all the Soaks fans here. Looks like we have some work to do before the next round. Maybe we can be the first team to score some points against Nedlands nest week? In any case, here is the game report - feel free to disagree with it or add more information in a follow-up post.

AFTER round one success, Perth-Bayswater first grade's premiership aspirations came down to earth with a 48-3 loss at the hands at the hands of Associates in their Home Building Society rugby union match at Allen Park on Saturday[April 8].
After an even start to the game, Associates soon worked out Perth-Bayswater's weaknesses out wide and took advantage of them to run in a procession of tries.
Perth-Bayswater's forward pack showed it has already progressed mightily, holding the upper hand against a scrum which had dominated them over the past two seasons.
The front row of Dane Taingauhue, Ash Murphy, Tom Hughes and replacement prop Tua Patu dominated the scrums for a second week but their platform was not enough for the backs who were unable to pierce Associates wall of defence.
Perth-Bayswater under-performed for much of the game and their own errors played nearly as large a part in the loss as Associates skill.
While simple errors were costly in attack, Perth-Bayswater's defensive pattern fell apart as Associates found weaknesses in the mid-field and out wide.
Number eight Kereopa Pirikahu made several strong runs with the ball in hand and fullback Jules Dunn defended stoutly and used every opportunity to take the ball to the opposition but was unable to find his way to the try line.
Perth-Bayswater demonstrated strength in the line out with jumpers Brett Murphy and Brian Khaemba securing the ball for their team.
They have a mammoth task ahead of them next week as they take on Nedlands, who have already defeated last season's premiers Wests-Subiaco and are yet to concede a point this season.
In other games, Perth-Bayswater was equally luckless, losing to Associates in all grades.
The second grades went down 22-0, the fourth grade 52-7 and the under 19s 43-10.

[Burgs]

Go SOAKS!
Hey Bruce, after hearing of the situation out at Kala with their Force players, how has the P-B experience been with your allocated players?
I imagine being closer to where they live it has been a bit easier?
Are they fitting into the Club squad easily enough with limited group training?

[bruce]

Mate I haven't seen them. I've heard they've been down once. Our player allocation is Ward, DeBartolo, MacKay and Shepherd. Mackay is out for the season and Ben Ward has transferred himself to University. We haven't been offered replacements for either of them. DeBartolo and Shepherd are busy with the Force and we are unlikely to see them for quite a while, if at all.

When the two players pulled out from Kalamunda, it seems they transferred wherever they wanted instead of being offered to a club like ours which has no Force players available.

With all the Force players living close to Perry Lakes, it's understandable that they would want to play locally to where they live but I can see this growing into a big problem for Perth-Bayswater, Kalamunda, Palmyra, Rockingham and Wanneroo. Given what's already happened, Force players are going to think they can go and play wherever they want and this will result in the the teams that are already traditionally the strongest in the comp getting all the Force players - look at Nedlands' early success as an indication of the gulf that can potentially open up between teams here. I really think RugbyWA needs to reconsider how they are allocating these players.