1 August 2009
Perth-Bayswater first grade seemed determined to end the year with a miserable decline into the lower reaches of the table, going down 30-16 to Rockingham at Lark Hill.
It was all good news in other grades, seconds defeating Rockingham 35-12, thirds had a bye, fourths/fifths overturned Mandurah 36-31, under 20s also had a bye, Under 18s beat Rockingham Gold 31-14 and the women came home with another close one over Wanneroo 57-0.
A beautiful Saturday afternoon saw Filthy Fifths embark on a team bus trip down to Lark Hill to take on the third grade (I mean fourths) of Mandurah. With our own third grade afforded a bye, playing stocks were plentiful as the bus was packed to capacity, skippered by Dwain ‘The Train’ Barr. To add to the festivities, the Referees Association plucked one of the Beverly Hillbillies from a nearby Bunbury farm, hat and all, and put him in charge of the grazing lands of Lark Hill!
 The Dummy Spitter in full flight: referees beware |
The bus shenanigans and ample changerooms were soon put behind the boys as they quickly realised that Mandurah’s 0-8 season record stood for nothing. After Matt ‘Dummy Spitter’ Sefton sliced through for an easy first try, the Pirates quickly replied with one of their own after some poor midfield defence. Defence seemed to be secondary to both teams, as the boys in black ran in two more soft tries through the midfield, while Mandurah, on the back of a solid kicking game and two-try breeze, replied with their own. Whitney was unfortunate to be bundled into the corner flag just short of the tryline after a good backline movement, but ‘ran out of room’ when five metres in from touch and an open tryline greeted him. Half time, Perth-Bayswater up 19-12.
 The Barr Fridge tows multiple Mandurians across the try line |
The second half became a real dog fight with many of Mandurah’s third graders backing up for a second run. Breaking through some flimsy defence, and putting the ball on the toe saw some men in black circle the ball several times, before Barr Fridge tried to scare the ball into his hands unsuccessfully and the Pirates crossed for an early try. Unable to use the breeze to full effect, the game see-sawed between the 22s before a breakout try to Perth on the back of a good Dummy Spitter charge down bought them some breathing space. Perth followed it up with a good team try with both backs and forwards presenting good phase ball, and it was 33-19. But Mandurah were not done with, and through their halves began to mount attack after attack, and ran in two tries down the left hand side, and all of a sudden it was 33-31, and the boys were on the ropes. A stirring in-goal speech from Legs, reminding the boys that they were there to play rugby not socialise on a bus trip, kicked the boys back into action. An excellent turnover resulted in a penalty which Barr Fridge knocked over giving the boys a 36-31 win and moved them into third on the ladder with Curtin and Kalamunda snapping at their heels. Next weekend against Curtin will be an important game in shaping the finals.
After watching the firsts, the boys climbed aboard ‘The Train’s’ bus and made their way back to the clubhouse to celebrate Tubs' and Grumps' 50th birthdays, which rounded out a nice outing for the boys and girls of fifth grade.