And that's the score at the end. Perth-Bayswater first grade trailed for all but eight minutes of this game but came away with the points after a second half comeback based on brute forward strength, winning by a narrow 21-18 against a competitive Wests-Subiaco at Pat O'Hara Reserve on Saturday. The premiers dominated territory in a wet and windy match despite playing 30 minutes with 14 men but Wests looked the more organised and skilled side in the first half, leading 15-0 at the break.
Perth-Bayswater struck trouble early when wing Fabian Broughton took out a Wests player in the air after two minutes and ref Sean Popplewell went for his yellow card with unseemly haste. Wests kicked for the vacant corner then spun the ball wide for a try in the other corner. Perth-Bayswater worked back and the forwards almost scored from a series of pick and drives after ten minutes, but discipline problems continued and Wests kicked a massive 45 metre penalty following a head high tackle 20 minutes in. Perth-Bayswater controlled territory and crushed Wests in the scrums but Wests spoiled Perth's lineouts and were tireless in the loose, sending the premiers away empty-handed from repeated assaults. Sporadic rain didn't help ball handling and then Perth lost fullback Nick Holley to the sin bin following an innocuous tackle. Immediately Wests raced over for the try, the visitors taking a 15-0 lead into the break.
Wests opened the second spell stronger and slotted a moderate penalty kick after five minutes to increase the lead to 18-0. But the black forwards ground back down the pitch and from a forward drive following a penalty, hooker Adam Morris drove over for the try. Lock Jock Stanley converted from a difficult angle and the premiers were on their way to yet another second half comeback at 15-7. Prop Alema Arthur was Perth’s third yellow card when the premiers were offside after 22 minutes but the black forwards were relentless in their methodical wet weather attacks, pick and drives continually splintering Wests’ defence up the middle. From a penalty lineout the black pack rolled forward but were again ruled held up, and instead were called back to the 22 for another penalty. Again the black pack bulldozed forward and when Wests spoiled the move, Popplewell awarded a penalty try. Stanley converted from in front and Perth-Bayswater were in sight at 18-14 after 27 minutes. Perth kept the pressure on with savage forward drives and with eight minutes to play the pack poured over the line, captain and prop Ash Murphy claiming the honours. Stanley converted from the angle and the premiers took the lead for the first time, 21-18. Wests struggled valiantly to break the shackles in the dying minutes but apart from a couple of minor flourishes were pinned securely in their half by the black pack until full time.
Winning coach John ‘JT’ Taylor was not celebrating after the game.
“We had a basic game plan we wanted to execute against these guys, and we went and played another one in the first half,” Taylor said.
“I gave them a rev up at half time, and we came away. I told them to drive through the middle, which was where I thought we’d win the game, and we did.
“Wet weather rugby is wet weather rugby. You can’t run the ball.
“We made a lot of mistakes. We didn’t play to the game plan until ten minutes in the second half and you saw the result. They didn’t have an answer to our forward power.”
Taylor nominated the Murphy brothers and number eight Cale McCort as standout players.
“His tidying up and driving play was outstanding,” Taylor said.
Taylor wasn’t reading too much into the close result with the season at the half way stage.
“I said to the boys you don’t win the premiership at this time of the year,” Taylor said.
“What you do is have enough wins so you have the chance to have a shot. It’s just important that you win these games, whether it’s by 3 points or 30.”
In other games, second grade lost to Wests 24-23, third grade lost to Wests 24-42, fifth grade defeated Wests 43-7, Under 20s defeated Cottesloe 31-3, and Under 18s defeated Cottesloe 41-7.
Going forward: prop Aleema Arthur puts in the hard yards.