Perth-Bayswater hung on grimly for a nail-biting 10-8 win over Rockingham to get their premiership defence back at track at Pat O’Hara Reserve in today’s RugbyWA cub competition match of the round. The win moved the premiers up to fifth in an unusually tight finish to the competition, and dropped Rockingham back to fourth, with tough games against Soaks and Neddies to follow over the next two weeks. Perth-Bayswater's path to the finals is marginally easier, with Wests-Subiaco and Wanneroo ahead.
After a helter-skelter start, Rockingham kicked an angled 30 metre penalty for coming in the side of a ruck after six minutes. Rockingham had the better of early possession, spinning the ball from side to side and making yards by using their big men as ball carriers. But when a long kick ahead bounced awkwardly for the Rockingham defence, Perth-Bayswater wing Nathan Hunt was on hand to snatch the wayward ball and sprint 20 metres to score under the bar after 17 minutes. Flyhalf Toby Hohapata converted from in front and the premiers went ahead 7-3. Dominating the scrums and lineouts, the premiers briefly took control and forced play into Rockingham's 22 but Perth-Bayswater errors and Rockingham's high-speed swarming attack combined to put the southern club back on the front foot as the half hour approached. Rockingham had the better of breakdown play and Perth-Bayswater's lineout developed the wobbles as the torrid pace continued and while the visitors had plenty of opportunity, rushed execution robbed them of finish and the premiers' brutal defence kept their line safe until half time.
The premiers increased the pressure as the second spell opened and pinned Rockingham in their half but sloppy execution continually hampered their chances. It was left to lock Jock Stanley to land a 35 metre penalty after 16 minutes to nudge the premiers ahead 10-3. Perth-Bayswater kept play down in Rockingham's territory as the second half passed the mid way point but could not string the phases together to score, and with referee Peter Hilgendorf ruthless on holding on in the ruck, continuity was at a premium. Then after 25 minutes Rockingham gained turnover possession in their 22 and ran wide, kicking ahead to snap up the ball and charge over for the try. The conversion missed but Rockingham came close at 10-8 with 15 minutes to play. However, Rockingham earned a yellow card for repeated infringements and Perth-Bayswater forced play back into Rockingham's 22, the visitors down to 14 men. Hunt almost scored his second from a flying attack down the sideline with eight minutes to play but put a foot into touch on his way to the goal line. Stanley missed a sideline penalty three minutes later but in the final minutes, Perth-Bayswater reserve Tane Edwards was sent to the sin bin to leave the premiers one man short for a cliffhanger finish. The long range penalty that would have stolen the game for Rocky went astray and the premiers forced play back into Rockingham's half. Several times Perth-Bayswater gave away possession as Rockingham fought desperately for the killer blow into injury time, and a series of scrums in Perth-Bayswater's 22 had supporters holding their breath. But in the last play of the game, Rockingham conceded a free kick and the premiers held on for a heart-stopping win.
In other games, seconds thrashed Rockingham 66-10, thirds went down to mandurah 31-0, Under 20s defeated University Green 25-0, Under 18s hammered Joondalip 73-3 and the women defeated Kalamunda 25-0.
Filthy Fifth Grade came out on top 26-12 in their fourth verse fifth place clash with Joondalup on Saturday. It was a must-win game to cement a place in the finals and put Joondalup out of contention. Soon as the game started it was clear that Joondalup had no answer to Perth's big forward pack in the set pieces and around the mauls. With Tony, Copper, Cliff "Man Boobs" Mateseni plus Hansome Danny Vella out-muscling their opposite numbers and Bushie and Dermott in everything, the supply of ball was overwhelming. It did not take long before the first try came when the ball was moved blind to the Fridge from a scrum on Joondalup's 22. Fridge was pulled down just short of the line when a fourth defender jumped on his back to help out the other three but the ever reliable Shane "Barr Fridge" was there in support to pick up the ball and crash over. He then popped over the conversion from the side line and Fifths were 7-0 up. The boys liked that blindside move so much that three minutes later number eight Dave "The Block" Watene picked the ball up from the base of the scrum and fed the ball quickly to Barr Fridge who then put the Kiwi Kelvinator Noel Spittal in for his second try for a 12-0 lead. Things were going well and it was not long before try number three was on the board when the backs showed some slick passing to put Dallas "The Star" Godlieb in for our third try and a 19-0 lead at half time.
After half time Joondalup got into the match and our team was put to the test, not in the scrums mind you as they went uncontested which was good for the Joondalup side but meant we were denied the use of one of our main weapons. Joondalup now had guaranteed ball and they used it well by running everything at us. In the end they scored two tries and converted one to come within seven points of us. The boys in black rallied in the final minutes and Justin "Stumpy" Lamb sliced through the defence for the try that sealed the match. Man of the Match was Handsome Danny Vella who was sporting a new cologne for the game called "Bourbon". Danny's mum makes such a good job at doing the jumpers Danny may get them for the rest of the season. A special thanks to Mrs Vella from the team.