A Kalamunda team featuring Wallaby wing Drew Mitchell staked an early claim on the premiership race with a tightly contested 36-23 win over premiers Perth-Bayswater at Pat O’Hara Reserve today in the RugbyWA club competition, sponsored by KWIK Crane and Transport. In an exciting, dramatic match the Bulls opened up a big early lead with three electrifying tries in the first 18 minutes but the tenacious Perth-Bayswater team fought back using their aggressive forward pack. The premiers came within a converted try of stealing the game but Kalamunda wrapped up the contest with a runaway try on the bell.
The game started at lightning pace and Kalamunda scored after six minutes, starting from a lineout on their goal line, surging the length of the field with sizzling runs by both wings, and finishing when number 8 Cruze Ah-nu surged over for the try. Flanker Kyle Skiba converted from a wide angle for an early 7-0 lead. Kalamunda started to dominate territory and scored again, the backs racing up from halfway after a midfield ruck, prop Sui Liaga eventually clinching the try in the corner. From the kick off the ball went wide and wing Dion Berryman outflanked the defence for the simplest of tries in the corner. Skiba’s sideline conversion was successful and at 19-0 the match looked all but over after 18 minutes. The Bulls were sharp, focused and urgent while the premiers struggled to get their combinations working. However, Kalamunda lost Ah-nu to the sin bin for repeated infringements and Perth-Bayswater lock Jock Stanley slotted the 30 metre penalty from the middle of the park. With a new focus, Perth-Bayswater worked back, flyhalf Nathan McCort kicking long for a lineout five metres out. The forwards drove up and rolled over the line, hooker Adam Morris claiming the try. The sideline conversion bounced off the posts but the premiers had hope at 19-8 after 28 minutes. Perth-Bayswater stayed on attack, hammering Kalamunda's line with pick and drive rucks but Kalamunda escaped and the premiers had to settle for a difficult penalty kick to Stanley after a head high tackle, to trail 19-11 going into the break.
Play was mixed as the second half opened and Mitchell took the field. Perth-Bayswater's control of the set pieces kept them going forward and their swarming loose play disrupted the Bulls’ continuity. But from a penalty after 12 minutes the ball went wide for the Bulls and Mitchell fed reserve flanker Brent Walker for a try in the corner. The conversion missed but Kalamunda remained well ahead at 24-11. Despite the setback, Perth-Bayswater kept at their task. The forwards rumbled up and assaulted Kalamunda's line, Morris scoring his second from a rolling maul after 22 minutes. At 24-16 the game was wide open and the premiers camped in Kalamunda’s 22, straining the defence with forward charges and quick rucks. But Kalamunda’s dangerous backs broke midfield and passed wide where Mitchell flew 40 metres to score in the corner. The thriller contest continued with the premiers straight back onto attack, the forwards driving up for Western Force number eight Scott Fardy to lope over for the try beside the posts. Fardy converted from in front as the all-action, high scoring game again hung in the balance at 29-23. The Black pressure was overwhelming and Kalamunda was again under stress when the home side gained an attacking scrum on the 22 with time almost up. But the Bulls sealed a fine display by stealing tighthead ball and racing over half way, then passing wide for Berryman to outflank the defence and run 50 metres to score under the posts. Skiba converted to wrap up an outstanding exhibition of rugby from the competition’s top two sides.
