2 May 2010
 Fullback Dylan Parsons looks for the break |
Perth-Bayswater first grade hit rock bottom with a thumping 40-7 defeat by 2009 wooden spooners Wests-Subiaco at Rosalie Park today in the RugbyWA club competition. Most of the damage was done in a woeful first half, where Perth-Bayswater looked directionless as Wests ran up 25 unanswered points. Perth lifted in the second half to dominate for long periods and were unlucky not to score more than the solitary consolation try before the final whistle. Coach Rex George has his work cut out for him instilling composure and winning instincts into this young team. With plenty of young talent coming through it will be a test of character for the team to stay the course and make their mark.
Wests opened the scoring in the fourth minute with an angled penalty kick. The home team dominated possession as Perth tackled ineffectually and kicked unwisely, and then Wests rucked the ball downfield and passed to the short side for a simple try in the corner after eight minutes. The conversion attempt was woeful but Perth missed a penalty kick for the sideline four minutes later, and Wests took the ball, sweeping it wide to score in the other corner. The difficult conversion missed but the home side took a 13-0 lead. To make matters worse, Perth blew a certain try after 20 minutes when they worked downfield and a player burst from a ruck with the line barely defended. Incomprehensibly he chose to pass back to supporting players and allowed Wests' defence to close in and stop the movement.
Flyhalf Ethan Reid feeds the ball out |
Perth stayed on attack for five minutes but conceded a penalty on the halfway line for hands in the ruck. The attempt fell well short, but Wests were back in the right end of the field and continued attacking until their wing capped off a width of the field sweep with a try in the corner. The conversion went astray but Wests hardly needed the points at 18-0, with Perth looking incapable of response. But the visitors rucked downfield with energy, opting for a penalty kick after 35 minutes only to see flyhalf Ethan Reid steer the simple kick wide. Again Perth put together five minutes of energetic phases but without result, other than Wests' prop being sent to the sin bin by ref John Hill for striking following a disagreement after a ruck. But Wests had the last word, stealing ball from the resulting penalty lineout and charging downfield, Bunce grabbing his second as he sailed through non-existent tackling to score wide of the posts. Wests came good with the conversion and strolled to the half time break with a comfortable 25-0 lead under their belts.
Wests kept the scoreboard ticking over as the second half opened, kicking a handy penalty after three minutes. However, Perth moved back downfield and spent another five minutes thumping away with pick and drives in the corner, but knocked on and Wests escaped back down to halfway. Perth-Bayswater found new purpose and kept the game well away from their 22, Reid making gains with much improved tactical kicking and the forwards putting in heavy work in close. Perth stayed on attack, hammering Wests' line with repeated phases and crossed the line, only to be held up. A Perth scrum conceded a penalty for boring and again Wests escaped downfield. Tempers frayed and Perth lost two playesr to the sin bin and Wests moved back onto attack. But this time it was Wests who made the mistakes, and Perth took the game back to the half way line. Again Wests benefited from a Perth knock on and scrambled back onto attack, and were gifted a try by the the unsighted assistant referee after Wests wing was out touch in goal before placing the ball. Two minutes later Wests were in again in the other corner, rushing the disorganised Perth defence for a try and a thumping 40-0 score. But Perth had a point to prove and struggled back to the far end of the field, the forwards plunging over the line from a lineout. Number 8 Jackson Achilles claimed the try and Reid slotted the difficult wide conversion for a morsel of respect at 40-7.
It was bad news in most of the other grades, seconds going down to Wests 66-14, thirds losing to Wests 45-5, fourths succumbing to Wests 22-14, Under 20s suffering a rare loss to Wests 24-19, and it was left to Under 18s to salvage the club's pride with a strong 33-5 win over Wests.