18 July 2009
Perth-Bayswater first grade slipped further from the final four with a 30-17 loss to Wanneroo at Pat O'Hara Reserve on Saturday.
Perth competed strongly in the first half into the wind, played to the game plan and were on target to be just one point adrift at half time at 11-10.
The second half, playing with the wind, should have been Perth's opportunity to take control of the game but the team tried too hard to run unwise attacking options which, combined with wayward kicking, gave the opposition unncesessary opportunities. Wanneroo made the most of it with a 20 minute purple patch in the second half to run in four tries, leaving the boys in black playing catch-up rugby. There were plenty of opportunities but again options were rushed, trying to run free kicks and losing attacking lineouts and making unforced errors.
However, depsite the outcome it was a better team performance by a young team that competed for eighty minutes and should be built on in the games to come. A few of the club's budding stars were introduced to first grade in this game, including Dylan Parsons, Cameron Lockett and Reggie Simpson.
Perth's points came from tries to number eight Pierre Roberts, hafback Mark Hill and wing Lockett, with one conversion by Toby Hohapata.
The loss leaves Perth ten points adrift of fourth-placed Nedlands and with five games remaining before the finals, they will need a string of wins and other results to go their way as well to make the top four.
Pics by Dave Whitnell
In other grades, second grade lost to Wanneroo 13-11, third grade went down to Wanneroo 12-6, fourths/fifths defeated Wanneroo 31-12, Under 18s defeated Wanneroo 35-10 and the women's team downed Wanneroo girls 27-0.