13 September 2009
By Matilda Keynes
Reigning premiers Perth-Bayswater advanced to their second successive grand final after thrashing Kalamunda 34-0 in the women’s preliminary final at McGillivray Oval yesterday.
In a one-sided game, Perth-Bayswater dominated across the park with free-flowing attack and an impenetrable defence to book a place in the final against Cottesloe next Sunday.
A quality kicking game from the Perth backs was a telling factor in the emphatic victory, adding another dimension to their impressive attack. Struggling to cope with the high ball, Kalamunda were often caught out deep in defence and made too many errors.
Perth opened the game strongly, their early attacking possession rewarded by a penalty deep in the Kalamunda half. However, Kalamunda bounced back, stringing together a series of attacking phases and sustained possession. The Perth defence stood firm to deny the barrage, and the eventual turnover and clearing kick led to an excellent rebound try from winger Sandra Dangen at the 14th minute. Fullback Sharnee Werahiko narrowly missed the conversion, Perth leading 5-0 after 15 minutes.
Kalamunda dominated possession from the restart and continued their wide passing game in an attempt to break the Perth defensive line, but without success. The Kalamunda attack was driven backwards and sideways and they lost valuable territory to the dominant Perth forwards. A spectacular tackle on the opposition winger saw Perth flanker Nikki McLoughlin swoop on the loose ball and carry it over for an easy try. The conversion attempt was again unsuccessful and the score stood at 10-0 to Perth with 22 minutes gone.
Minutes later Perth broke the Kalamunda line again, outside centre Hemoata Purukanu scoring from a lineout in the far left corner after another perfectly executed kick. A tough angle for the conversion meant fullback Werahiko was again unsuccessful, Perth winning comfortably 15-0 after 30 minutes.
Perth continued to dominate territory late in the first half. While both teams were fairly even in set pieces, it was Perth’s penetrative running and passing, and pinpoint kicking that was the big difference between the two sides. Kalamunda went into the half time break with a big mountain to climb, and everything to play for.
With renewed determination after an impassioned half time talk, Kalamunda came out hard in the second half. Attacking across the width of the park they exposed the Perth defence and forced a penalty for offside. Knowing their season was on the line, Kalamunda elected to run the penalty rather than take the much-needed points, and continued to attack. However, as was the story of the day, their promising run came to nothing after another error, a knock on before the line.
Perth punished Kalamunda for their inability to convert possession to points and launched a counter offensive, resulting in an easy try under the posts to number 8 Kelly Keepo 17 minutes into the second half. Fullback Werahiko kicked her first successful conversion of the match to take the score out to 22–0.
There was no way back for the Reds. Perth extended their lead moments later through flyhalf Hohepa Puawai, following precision passing across the width of the field. The Perth fullback converted the try for a 29–0 lead after 55 minutes.
With victory in sight, Perth kept up the unrelenting attack. The Perth forwards used pick and drive tactics to gain territory and showed their strength against a lacklustre Kalamunda defence. When the ball was eventually spun out to flyhalf Puawai, she drew her defender expertly and threw an inch perfect pass for fullback Werahiko to cross the line and put the victory beyond doubt. Despite missing the conversion, Perth were through to the grand final in style, winning comfortably 34–0.
Coach Wayne Walden was very pleased with the magnitude of the win.
"It was a lot more than we expected," he said.
"We played Kalamunda last week and they were really tough, but today we really stepped up and I'm really happy with how the girls performed.
"Last week they blew us off the park the whole game and we really wanted to start well in this game, and hopefully progress from that. And the scoreboard shows it all."
Walden highlighted his team's kicking in a grade not known for its accurate ball work with the boot, and tight defensive pattern.
"We practice to kick, we try and train just like a men's team. A lot of the other teams don't have a kicking game, but we do. We've actually got a lot of options.
"We worked on the defence this week, although it probably wasn't as good as I would like. We tended to ruck chase a lot instead of spreading out."
Walden said that complacency was an issue for the standout minor premiers.
"All week everybody else has said we're already in the final," Walden said.
"But we tried to stick with the mentality that we weren't there yet. But now we can look forward to next week."
Walden praised his tight five as major contributors to the win.
"We've got some pretty big girls in the front row and they did really well, and our lock Fuassie [Fuarona Time] just drops anything that moves."
