8 August 2009
Perth-Bayswater first grade rediscovered some late season pride and purpose with a 27-18 win over the under-rated University team at Pat O'Hara Reserve. The win was sweet revenge for first grade after losing to the students in round 8, a loss that started Perth's mid-season wobbles that dropped the team from the top four and relegated their season to disappointment.
A horror injury run hasn't helped but much of the team's mediocre on-field displays have been self-inflicted, however this win shows that there is fight left in the team and enough attitude to possibly upset a few teams late in the season.
In other grades, seconds continued their late season revival when they defeated Uni 15-10, thirds went down heavily to Curtin Uni 42-0, fourths/fifths defeated Curtin Uni 12-0, under 20s lost to Uni 25-0, Under 18s defeated Southern Lions 25-0 and the women reached for the record books again with a 127-0 hiding of University women. We have to give those Uni girls credit for hanging in there.
Saturday saw the Filthy Fifths looking for revenge on their first round defeat to the Curtin Uni Goats. The boys turned up to play, and were well led by a tight five that was destroying their opposition. Amidst all the knuckle dragging that goes on in that forward pack, one prop could be heard trying to string a sentence together that went something like — (grunt, snort) "that’s why we’re in the front row, bro” (grunt, snort), “'Cause we’re hard!" (grunt, snort, drag knuckles, pack scrum). Tony Pepperoni was killing his poor opposite number, while Bushy was busy giving the Curtin halfback and hooker a torrid time on the scrum feeds, and Bert was having things his way in the lineout. The boys got straight to work and from a lineout, quick ball saw Matt ‘Dummy Spitter’ Sefton slicing through the Curtin backline with a beautiful dummy before putting skipper Dwain ‘The Train’ Barr over for the first points, and Perth led 7-0. The Dummy Spitter looked set to open them up down the right hand side again and with The Train unmarked outside, tried the ‘show and go’ one more time. The Curtin boys were not happy with his second attempt at such a move and proceeded to try to rip the Dummy Spitter’s head off his shoulders in the tackle, which the officiating personnel chose to ignore resulting in the now accustomed verbal tirade from Matthew! However Perth’s discipline was questionable at best, and big Cliffy ‘Man Boobs’ Mataseni found himself cooling his heels in the bin after choosing to ignore the idea of releasing the ball when in the attendance of three of the Goats and none of our own. I suspect Man Boobs was looking for early oranges as he quickly parked himself on the sideline, where he remained for the afternoon.
The second half saw Perth again going on the attack but failing to put points on the board. Curtin were throwing the ball wide, but The Train and Adrian were masterfully herding the Goats into touch and breaking down play. Back to a full complement and by way of a penalty for a nasty Goat with hands in the ruck, Perth set up camp on the Curtin try line. Big bad Barney McGoon was set to be rewarded for his tireless workrate when he bustled his way over, only to be denied by officialdom. From the attacking scrum, and a couple of phases later, Shane ‘Barr Fridge’ used his ample arse to burrow over out wide, and Perth were up 12-0. Perth’s discipline was again getting in the way of a good time, and Russ called on his years of experience and forward pack smarts to discreetly slow play down right in front of the referee, resulting in his receipt of the ‘Dick of the Day’ award and a smashing pair of pink sunglasses for the afternoon. Going back on the attack, Chris ‘The Nurse’ Roberts decided to take out his aggression and in true Goat battle fashion headbutted one of the Goats' knees and proceeded to spend the next minute snoring soundly. The ‘big fella upstairs’ showed his displeasure with The Nurse’s snoring and proceeded to dump rain all over him, waking him from his slumber. It’s good to report that no major damage was done, and after an ambulance ride to hospital Chris is okay, aside from the alcohol-free hangover he earned himself. Resuming from the break in play, and the nimble players from Fifth grade feeling refreshed, warm and ready for another full game, Perth held true for the final three minutes and secured a solid win, consolidating third position on the ladder. All in all, a great team effort at a much-needed time leading into some September action. After leading from the front all day, Rodger was deservedly awarded the jumpers for this week's dry cleaning!