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Rugby WA's reigning premiers, Cottesloe, sprinted out to an impressive lead before scoring a hard-fought win over Wanneroo, 28-21, at Harvey Field today in the opening game of the 2010 competiition, sponsored by Kwik Crane and Transport Hire.
The Seagulls were all polish the in the first half for a one-sided 17-0 lead while Wanneroo looked like a team on their first training run. But the premiers lost momentum in the second spell as an aggressive Roo-dogs outfit took the game to them through their big boys up front and came close to snatching it in the dying stages.
The season kicked off in glorious weather at picturesque Cottesloe Beach, Wanneroo enjoying the better of early territory but the Seagulls' big eight dominating early scrums.
But after nine minutes the Seagulls' halfback scampered clear from a ruck and the ball went blind for impressive Force lock Luke Jones to gallop down the sideline. He passed back in for a clear run to the line for number Ricky Fluhler, who came around to touch down behind the posts. Flyhalf Tim Park converted the sitter and the side took a 7-0 lead, a little against the run of play.
Cottesloe upped its possession stats and looked hungrier on attack as the half unfolded, both wings coming close with enterprising darts down their touch lines. Left wing Nathan Hunt, an aquisition from Perth-Bayswater this year, finished off a massive overlap as Wanneroo scrambled in defence. Park converted another easy chance and the reigning premiers were 14-0 up after 23 minutes.
A messy spell closed out the half with several outbreaks of ill discipline but Cottesloe maintained their control of the ground, and Park took the premiers into the break 17-0 up with a simple penalty goal.
Cott opened the second spell in dominant form, rucking the ball up the middle of the paddock with backs and forwards combining with all the polish of a team at the business end of the competition instead of the opening game. Number eight Fluhler finished off a simple series of passes for a try in the corner and despite Park missing the wide conversion, the Seagulls were well in charge at 22-0 after five minutes.
Five minutes later the Seagulls were hard on attack and another score looking imminent when they kicked across field for the corner only to see Roo-dogs wing Oliver Vine claim the ball in the air and sprint 90 metres, eluding the cover defence for a shock try at the far end of the field. Flyhalf Sam Wills converted and Wanneroo had a glimmer at 22-7.
Bouyed by their score, the Roo-dogs took heart and pressured Cottesloe in their half, forcing errors and turnovers from the complacent premiers. A turnover in midfield gave Vine another chance for a wide, penetrative run, passing back in to bulky number 8 Rob Gaitau for the try under the posts. Wills converted from point blank range and the Roo-dogs made a fight of it at 22-14 after 20 minutes.
Cott upped their margin with a moderate penalty goal to Park four minutes later 25-14 but Wanneroo went right back to thumping Cott's line with heavy forward charges, only to lose the ball on the line, and the Seagulls kicked clear on the half hour.
But the Roo-dogs weren't done and kept the heavyweight assaults on Cotts line coming, reserve prop Ata Fatupaito finally smashing over from the last in a series of tap penalties on the line. Wills convrted the sitter and the game hung in the balance 25-21.
Wanneroo lost reserve centre Joe Utiera was sent to the sin bin by referee Julian Pritchard for a cyncial infringement with five minutes to play and Cott gratefully increased their margin when Park landed the long range goal from the centre of the park.
That took the wind out of Wanneroo sails for the last few minutes as they struggled to keep the ball in hand and score for a draw, but Cottesloe wrestled them downfield and hung on for the 28-21 win.
Rick Boyd, RugbyWA
Images: Matthew Greenfield | Perth Sports Photography
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