Pindan Premier Grade Preview - Week 10

Its round 10 of the Pindan Premier Grade and the teams return this week fresh from the bye round and ready to tackle the second half of the season.

 

When these sides met in round one, it was Associates who took home the spoils with a 23-12 victory over the Gulls but with a finals spot the focus for both sides it is sure to be a scintillating clash in the Battle of Broom Street on Saturday.

 

With Nedlands still remaining 10 points clear and almost guaranteed of playing finals; the race is on for the remaining three spots with the in-form Associates and Cottesloe having the perfect opportunity to show their finals credentials this weekend. 

 

So far in 2012 both teams have recorded six wins out of nine matches and a victory for either side on Saturday will go a long way in securing a coveted finals position come September.

 

Associates, one of the premier attacking sides of the competition, showed they are a forced to be reckoned with after thrashing fellow high flyers Wests Subiaco 44-10 two weeks ago.

 

Associates coach Andy Cole was delighted with his side’s victory over Wests but insisted they would not be reading too much into it.

 

“It is always nice to win against a team like Wests, but it’s a new week and another game against a team who, like us, are pushing for a place in the top four,” Cole said.

 

“It’s going to be another tough game in the local derby against Cott and the way the table is looking at the moment it is essential we pick up the four points this weekend.

 

“The bye last weekend offered us the opportunity to do some different things including a spin class, so I’m hoping it’s given the boys the chance to recharge the batteries for the push for a finals position at the back end of the season.”

 

The visitors to Allen Park this weekend are the fifth placed Cottesloe, who recorded their sixth win of the campaign when they downed Rockingham 25-35 before the break.

 

Cottesloe coach Ian Fowler said his side are looking forward to the tough encounter with Soaks and the opportunity to secure a finals position.

 

“There is a great rivalry between ourselves and Soaks as they are always intense and close encounters,” he said.

 

“As the table suggests they are Soaks are a very good side as they currently sit second behind Neddies and have scored the second highest points in the league.

 

“Therefore we will need to apply our best defensive pressure if we are to nullify their attacking nature and secure the four points.”

 

Fowler outlined that the bye, although not coming at a welcome time, offered his players the opportunity to recover from some niggling injuries.

 

“Last weekend’s bye came at a strange time considering we had one three weeks ago, but none-the-less it offered the chance for several players to recover from some niggling injuries,” he said.

 

“I’m looking forward to the clash against Associates as it will provide us an indication of where we are at in 2012 and the areas we need to improve in to secure a finals position.”

 

 

Two weeks ago Nedlands continued their onslaught of the Pindan Premier Grade in 2012 when they defeated Wanneroo 29-22.  With a nine game winning streak, the hosts are brimming with confidence and a victory against Uni will all but secure a finals position for 2012.

 

Defending champions UWA currently sit mid-table after recording their fifth win in 2012 with a 33-10 victory against an out-of-sorts Kalamunda in round nine.  A loss against Neddies will make securing a finals place harder for the defending champions but a win will certainly give them the confidence they need to make it possible.

 

Palmyra has been impressive to date and currently sit third on the ladder after a 28-13 victory over Perth Bayswater two weeks ago.  With just two points separating these sides when they met in round one it is guaranteed this game will be hard fought by both sides.

 

Wests Subiaco sit fourth on the ladder after suffering their fourth loss of 2012 before the bye week when they were thrashed 44-10 by Associates.  Similar to Paly, a win on Saturday will go a long away in helping to secure a finals position for 2012 come September.

The 2012 Pindan Premier Grade season hasn’t gone to plan for Rockingham who recorded their eighth loss after going down 25-35 against Cottesloe in their last hit out.  The home side will take a lot of positives from their loss against the high flying Cottesloe, but it is going to be another tough match against Wanneroo on Saturday.

 

Wanneroo are one of seven teams fighting for a position in the top four and a finals position come September.  Two weeks ago Wanneroo fell victim to Neddies undefeated streak as they were defeated 29-22, but the fixture against the luckless Rockingham offers them the opportunity to get back into the winners circle.

 

 

Kalamunda are another team in the Pindan Premier Grade that are already looking to 2013 after recording their eight loss of the 2012 campaign when they were defeated 33-10 against UWA.  With Perth Bayswater occupying the position above them, Kalamunda will see this as the perfect opportunity to record their second win for 2012.