Bulls into Perth Grand Final
Sun, 17 Aug 2008 17:33
Minor premiers Kalamunda are through to the Grand Final after a low key, low scoring 13-11 win over runners-up Nedlands in the major semifinal of the Rugby West Australia club competition.
And Wanneroo continued an astonishing year of success with a cool and clever 21-16 cliffhanger win over 2007 premiers Perth-Bayswater in the minor semifinal at the weekend.
Nedlands now face Wanneroo in next week's preliminary Final.
But the big news of the weekend's play-off matches were Kalamunda's move into the Grand Final.
Nedlands dominated a slow first half that ended with a flurry of action, the only tries of the day being scored in the final five minutes of the first spell. But the minor premiers, Kalamunda, gained forward control in the second half and played patient finals rugby backed up by rugged defence to tough out a close, tense finish.
The teams were evenly matched across the park, with the Bulls having an edge in the scrums and making headway with driving forward play from ruck ball. Kalamunda's ferocious defence shut down the swift Nedlands backline and their backs played uncharacteristically careful finals rugby leaving few holes to be exploited.
Nedlands claimed a penalty from the kick-off, kicked for the line and stayed in Kalamunda's half to test their early defences. The Bulls won the race to a kick through in goal after eight minutes as Neddies probed in the opening phases but nerves from both teams kept the semifinal scoreless.
The Bulls escaped after 15 minutes and attacked Neddies' line for five minutes with enthusiasm but no result and a long kick returned Nedlands to Kalamunda territory.
Neddies flyhalf Nathan Roberts narrowly missed a 40 metre penalty goal for offside after 21 minutes as points remained at a premium. Nedlands didn't want for opportunities but Kalamunda's aggressive defence locked them out, and after 25 minutes the Bulls again broke out to mount their own offensive. But after knocking on following three promising phases of attack, the Bulls settled for an angled 35 metre penalty goal to flank Kyle Skiba after 32 minutes, for the first score in a tense and surprisingly cagey semifinal.
However, Nedlands struck back immediately, spinning the ball wide after a line-out on the 22 and centre Garth Ziegler crossed out wide on the short side after the fifth phase. The sideline conversion missed but Neddies led 5-3 with minutes left in the half.
In a sudden explosion of action, Kalamunda raced onto the attack and centre Conrad Gillingham went over the line in a pile of bodies, but referee Sean Popplewell ruled the ball held up. Then from the scrum the ball went wide and an enormous cut out pass found wing Dave Kara on the sideline and he shrugged off one tackle to shoot over the line in the corner. Skiba converted from the sideline and the minor premiers claimed a 10-5 half time lead.
The Bulls opened the second spell stronger and pressured the opposition line but Neddies wrestled back and an even midfield tussle unfolded until Nedlands reserve wing Ren Delberto landed an angled 30 metre penalty goal for offside nine minutes in.
Neddies reserve number eight Joe Egan almost scored from a quick tap and charge but was held up after 18 minutes, and Delberto missed a long range penalty for offside following the movement as Nedlands struggled desperately to make up lost ground.
Kalamunda increasingly dominated territory as the semifinal entered the final 20 and with 11 minutes to play Skiba landed an angled 35 metres kick following an obstruction, the Bulls gaining a small safety margin at 13-8.
But Nedlands charged back and restored the margin with a penalty goal by reserve centre Cameron Sinden with five minutes on the clock, setting up a nail-biting finish at 13-11.
However, Kalamunda regained their momentum and kept play down Nedlands' end as the minutes wound down. Neddies had one last good chance with a penalty line-out into injury time but knocked on, and Kalamunda steadied in defence until the final whistle.
Kalamunda coach Paul King attributed the close, tactical outcome to a change in direction from his team for the business end of the season, particularly late in the game when Kalamunda kicked coolly to control territory and maintain a narrow lead.
"That's finals football, very much so," King said.
"We tried to play a more controlled game today rather than attack at all costs, and that's what finals are all about.
"We have tried to play a really attacking style of football but teams just seem to kick to us, and capitalise on us making mistakes. So we thought about that a lot, we just thought we'd play controlled rugby.
"I was pleased with the boys. We talked about finals football and how different it is to the normal season, and the boys went well."
King praised his side's defence as the outstanding feature of their game.
"Our defence has always been there, but today we were just a bit more organised, except for one occasion when they split us," King said.
"Our attack's always been there too, and I think we're the highest scoring team this year in the competition and I think that showed in the points, but our defence shone through today."
King gave credit to the depth of talent in the Kalamunda club and the unity that has developed between the top grades.
"It's vital," King said.
King is looking forward to the break before the Grand Final in two weeks, while the competition goes through the mill of the preliminary final.
"I don't mind the week off," King said.
"Any injuries, we have time to get over them, more preparation for whatever team makes it, we just get that little bit of extra time."
And is King expecting any players back from injury to make in impact on the Grand Final?
"No comment," said the laconic Kiwi with a wide smile.
Scorers:
Kalamunda:
Try: Kara
Con: Skiba
Pens: Skiba 2
Nedlands:
Try: Ziegler
Pens: Sinden 2
* Wanneroo continued an astonishing year of success with a cool and clever 21-16 cliffhanger win over 2007 premiers Perth-Bayswater in the minor semifinal.
Wanneroo timed their run to perfection, saving their first win over the tough Morley team in three outings this season for the one that mattered, the minor semifinal. The win earned the northern suburbs bolters a place in next week's preliminary final against Nedlands after two consecutive wooden spoons.
A composed kicking game by the team's French professional, flyhalf Benjamin Servien, brought Wanneroo home with a barrage of second half bombs that rattled the Perth-Bayswater defence. The precision backline running that saw Perth-Bayswater home in last week's pre-qualifying was conspicuous by its absence this week and despite a late forward charge that gave the game its nail-biting conclusion, the outgoing premiers never looked in control.
Wanneroo led 13-3 at half time after Perth-Bayswater dominated territory and the set pieces but hamstrung their efforts with lapses of discipline that cost them twenty minutes with 14 men, while the Roo-dogs seized their opportunities with alacrity.
Perth-Bayswater powered into the opening minutes, shoving Wanneroo back in the scrums and stealing their line-outs, but after eight minutes the Roo-dogs escaped upfield. They came close to scoring but Perth-Bayswater conceded a penalty in defence of their line only to see Wanneroo fullback Troy Doughty steer the sideline kick wide.
Perth-Bayswater powered back and after a skilful up and under and regather by Perth-Bayswater fullback Fabian Broughton, the Roo-dogs gave away a penalty in front of the posts and lock Jock Stanley slotted the sitter 13 minutes in.
Perth-Bayswater kept the pressure on to lock Wanneroo in their half, but couldn't penetrate and made errors in attack. The technique of the Morley team's scrum repeatedly ruined the ball for the Roo-dogs' bigger pack but on the half hour Wanneroo escaped and came close to scoring when centres Paelei Masili and Feterika Saue combined with high speed fancy footwork. But instead Doughty landed a 40 metre penalty goal after Perth-Bayswater number eight Cale McCort was yellow carded by referee Andrew Lindsay, drawing the game 3-3 after 32 minutes.
Minutes later Wanneroo almost scored again when wing Troy Woodman caught a favourable bounce from a corner kick but the scrambling Perth-Bayswater defence held on, conceding a moderate penalty chance that Doughty missed.
Perth-Bayswater cleared long but Woodman counter-attacked, sending the ball wide down the touch line where lock Hemi Davies finished off a 65 metre sweep with a try midway between the posts and the touch line. Doughty converted the moderate chance and Wanneroo raced to a 10-3 lead with minutes left in the half.
Another fortuitous bounce was collected by prop Semisi Taleni as Wanneroo went into overdrive and Perth-Bayswater lost centre Mark Gaskin to the sin bin in defence. Doughty converted the gift penalty from in front and Wanneroo took the 13-3 lead into the break.
Perth-Bayswater opened the second spell with more territorial dominance despite being back to 14 men again, Stanley missing a 45 metre penalty after four minutes but landing a 35 metre penalty from the middle of the park for offside after seven minutes.
The game returned to a massive struggle between the 22s. Perth's backline looked laboured and awkward compared to the sparkling precision of last week's final competition game, but the Roo-dogs conceded a string of penalties to keep the men in black going forward. Finally, coming in the side of a ruck cost them three points when Stanley landed an angled 40 metre penalty after 16 minutes.
Servien peppered the Perth-Bayswater defence with stratospheric high kicks and Wanneroo went on the offensive but Perth-Bayswater won a crucial goalline scrum battle and kicked clear. Then Perth-Bayswater had their turn at attack as the game entered the final ten minutes but were directionless with the ball in hand and the Roo-dogs were soon back on the offensive.
After 32 minutes a long pass blind from Servien found Woodman on the sideline and he powered around the defence to score in the corner. The conversion missed but the game seemed all but over at 18-9.
However, Perth-Bayswater drove back and scored a characteristic pick and drive try to hooker Adam Morris from a ruck on the line, converted from out wide by Stanley to come close at 18-16, setting up a razor-edge finish with minutes to play.
But there were no miracles for the 2007 premiers and Wanneroo forced play back down to Perth-Bayswater's 22 and hammered their line until they gave away one final penalty, and Doughty slotted the easy kick in the last play of the day.
Scorers:
Wanneroo:
Tries: Davies, Woodman
Cons: Doughty
Pens: Doughty 3
Perth-Bayswater:
Try: Morris
Con: Stanley
Pens: Stanley 3
