20 June 2009
Fifth-placed Perth-Bayswater bounced back from last week's dismal defeat to grind third-placed Associates down 22-16 at Allen Park on Saturday in the WA club rugby competition sponsored by KWIK Crane and Transport Hire. Perth led 10-3 at half time after an uncharacteristically strong start, atoning for their awful performance last week against Palmyra by holding their passes and making their tackles. Several players returning from injury and a couple of positional changes paid dividends for the men in black, big halfback Mark Hill outstanding in the muddy conditions.
Soaks started strongly and pinned Perth in their 22 but after Perth flanker Cameron Stonely broke up the midfield, Soaks were penalised for obstruction and flyhalf Toby Hohapata slotted the 25 metre penalty goal after 7 minutes. Perth stayed on attack with swarming loose play and a big break by number 8 Jarrel Te Kahu led to the forwards rushing Soaks’ line, Te Kahu finishing off the move himself for a try after 12 minutes. Hohapata converted from a handy angle and the visitors claimed an early 10-0 lead. Perth lost lock Jock Stanley to the sin bin after the restart but returned to hammer Soaks' line, inside centre Nick Holley almost scoring in the corner but was he unable to control the fingertip pass. Soaks had their turn on the offensive and attacked in Perth's 22 but the visitors' scrum turned over possession and Soaks helped with errors and penalties, returning Perth to the other end of the field. Perth lost blindside flanker Jackson Achilles to the sin bin on the half hour and Soaks went onto attack. The home side launched repeated attacks inside Perth's 22 with the help of opposition offences, but had to settle for a drop goal a minute before the break.
Perth opened the second spell strongly and five minutes in, centre Nathan McCort chip kicked over the defence, regathered and passed out to Holley for a try beside the posts. Hohapata converted and the visitors went further ahead 17-3. Soaks slowly worked back downfield with both sides suffering handling problems in the occasional heavy rain and kicked a 30 metre penalty goal after 13 minutes when a Perth player picked up loose ball from an offside position. Soaks added a second from a wider angle three minutes later when Perth came in the side of a ruck and the home side inched back within striking distance at 17-9. Hohapata failed to respond after 22 minutes with a moderate goal attempt after a late tackle but Perth stayed on attack when Soaks knocked on, and with 13 minutes to play wing Nathan Hunt shot down the blind side of a ruck and scored in the corner. The sideline conversion missed but Perth went ahead 22-9. Soaks had slightly the better of territory in the closing stages but in a scrappy, slow game with the slippery ball hard to control, neither side made much headway until Soaks took a quick tap penalty 15 metres out and slipped through lethargic defence to score near the posts. The conversion went over and at 22-16 another cliffhanger finish was on in the final five minutes. But with time running out Perth kicked for position and despite several errors, held on for a tough, gritty win.
Perth-Bayswater first grade coach Lex Wilson said that the difference was the result of home truths he and head coach John 'JT' Taylor had delivered during the week.
"We put it on the guys to take ownership, to stand up, start playing smart and with passion," Wilson said.
"And we saw that in the first twenty minutes. They threw themselves into everything. They believed in themselves and backed themselves this week, and played for each other.
"We had a video session on Tuesday and talked to the boys about their tackling and handling. We told them it's a personal thing, it's not a team thing, that their personal discipline was lacking."
Perth's notorious slow start was noticeably absent this week and Wilson admitted it was a problem they had been working on, aiming to come out of the blocks at full speed in this crucial match.
"We had to against Associates, they're a fast-starting side," Wilson said.
"If you stand back and watch them, you're in a whole world of hurt. We wanted to stand up and deny them front foot ball, which is what they thrive on. And we accomplished that."
Soaks have also proved strong finishers but Wilson said his own side was responsible for the tense, close finish.
"I think it was more our option taking that let them back in," Wilson said.
"We just wanted to keep turning them around but in the rain our backs gave away knock ons and dropped ball, and let them back in the game."
Wilson agreed halfback Hill had been a major influence in the game.
"Hilly played very well," he said.
"He got us on the front foot, got us quick ball and allowed us to operate with the go forward ball he was getting from the forwards."
Perth-Bayswater is still one point outside of the four after the win and Wilson knows the team has a tough battle ahead in the second half of the season.
"All the teams in the competition have showed this year that if you let your guard down, you're in for a fight. We've got a tough road, Nedlands next week, then Kalamunda, and they're in a bit of a resurgent cycle, so it'll be hard."
In other grades, seconds lost to Associates 47-20, thirds went down to Associates 36-0, fourths/fifths also lost to Soaks 17-10, as did Under 20s 21-11 but Under 18s defeated Rockingham 25-0 and the women's team snuck another close one past the Uni girls 86-0.