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A big second half of superb finals rugby earned Palmyra a late 19-16 win over premiers Cottesloe at Tompkins Park today, along with a place in the finals of the RugbyWA club competition, sponsored by KWIK Crane and Transport Hire.
Unfortunately for the Seagulls, the loss cost them the minor premiership but their bonus point for losing by less than seven, and a healthy percentage, was just enough to keep them in the major semi-final against new minor premiers Nedlands to be played next week at Lark Hill.
The win was also unfortunate for fifth-placed Kalamunda. The Bulls have been in red hot form in recent weeks and could have been a major threat but their place in the finals relied on Palmyra losing by more than seven points while they defeated Wests-Subiaco and scored four tries in the process. Kalamunda upheld their end of the bargain with a 45-20 bonus point win at Hartfield, but it was all for nothing.
Early indications looked good for both Cottesloe and Kalamunda, as the Seagulls dominated the first half to lead 13-3 at the break, while the home side made errors and struggled for possession and territory.
All that changed in the second spell with a masterful display of forward domination and tight finals rugby from Palmyra led by tireless flanker Karl Leary, while inside centre Eru Hoimona kicked the goals. Even the presence of Western Force flyhalf Mark Bartholomeuz for a full game and flanker Dave Pusey off the bench could not prevent the game from slipping through Cottesloe’s fingers.
After some early probing from both sides, Hoimona missed a good penalty chance from the 22 for holding on after five minutes but Cottesloe superboot Dave Cloete at fullback made no mistake with a slightly longer kick for offside three minutes later.
Cottesloe kept Palmyra in their half and assaulted their line with short forward charges until quick ball went left and found wing Tobias Hoskins in the midfield, and he cantered through a gaping hole to score close to the posts after 13 minutes. Cloete converted from in front and the visitors raced ahead 10-0.
Cottesloe kept the pressure on but Paly escaped downfield with a penalty and attacked the line, earning a moderate penalty chance when the Seagulls came offside in defence. Hoimona landed the kick and the home side crept closer at 10-3 after 27 minutes. But Cott moved back downfield and Cloete landed another angled penalty for offside after 36 minutes, taking the 13-3 lead into the break.
Palmyra swarmed onto attack from the second half kick off and rucked up to the line, earning a penalty after Cottesloe hands were caught in the ruck. Hoimona slotted the angled goal after three minutes, then calmly potted a drop goal from 30 metres three minutes later as the galvanised home team powered into the second spell, drawing close at 13-9.
Palmyra stayed on attack, launching waves of attack on Cottesloe's line interspersed with kicks for the line with the wind behind them. Again the Seagulls conceded a defensive penalty but Hoimona narrowly missed the wide chance after 22 minutes.
The Seagulls weathered the storm and worked downfield for Cloete to slot a sharply angled penalty goal and edge ahead 16-9, but the storm resumed from the kick off, Leary powering ahead from a lineout in Cott's 22. Big blindside flanker Anare Koliava took the pass and smashed through the Seagulls’ defence for a thumping try under the bar. Hoimona converted the sitter and Paly drew even at 16-16.
Palmyra kept the pressure on, helped by a couple of penalties, and Hoimona slotted an angled penalty goal to take Paly ahead 19-16 with minutes to play.
A desperate Cottesloe worked back downfield and had one final chance to equalise with a penalty on full time but Cloete’s long range attempt fell short and the vocal Palmyra crowd celebrated a double victory.
Palmyra coach John Taylor saw the result as vindication of the team’s commitment after recent reverses.
“We’ve worked pretty hard over the season and they’re just coming together at the right time,” he said.
Taylor paid tributes to his forwards after their second half control took the game away from Cottesloe.
“We were the architects of our own misery in the first half, making mistakes against the wind, which you can’t do against a good team like Cottesloe,” Taylor said.
“We knew what we had to do and play a positional game in the second half.
“We kicked down there, put pressure on them and the points came, so we’re pretty happy with what happened.
“The boys did all the things I asked.”
Taylor acknowledged Koliava’s try as the turning point for Palmyra’s second half revival, along with Hoimona’s earlier drop goal.
“That’s a planned move, we practice for that,” he said.
“And Anare, he just had a clear 20 metre run to the line and that was it. I wouldn’t like to be tackling him -- would you?”
Taylor named Hoimona and the loose forward trio of Leary, Koliava and Kiti Fuluna as the pick of his team.
It wasn’t a game where Palmyra used their attacking back line, with kicking dominating the secoring.
“They had everything to play for and we had everything to play for,” Taylor said.
“It was all about the points. Pressure, pressure, pressure.”
The win takes Palmyra into the finals and Taylor was confident Palmyra would make the most of the opportunity.
“We don’t have any injuries and I’m pretty happy with the way we’re playing,” he said.
“It’s a totally different competition now, but we’ve been here before and we know how to get the boys up.
“We like to think we’ve got the game plan that can match most other teams, but we’ll look at the DVDs, see who we’re playing and take it from there.
“We made the finals in the seconds too so it’s a pretty happy night for the club,” Taylor said.
In other games, Associates sealed third position with a 63-3 hiding over Rockingham at Allen Park, University finished their season on a high with a 37-5 win over a disappointing Wanneroo at McGillivray Oval, and minor premiers Nedlands downed a game Perth Bayswater 43-19 at Sir Charles Court Reserve.
by Rick Boyd