The 2012 RugbyWA Senior Grade competition culminates this weekend with grand finals in all grades to be played at McGillivray Oval, Mt Claremont on Saturday 29 September and Sunday 30 September.
Entry to the ground is $5 on Saturday and $10 on Sunday and with the weather expected to be fine it will be a great weekend of rugby with teams from nine clubs represented.
For all information regarding the event including details on parking, food and beverages and prohibited items please click here.
4th Grade Blue
Nedlands v Cottesloe
Saturday 29 September, 2012
Field 2 – Kick-off: 12.30pm
It has always been a close encounter between these two sides throughout the season with Nedlands taking the competition points in Round 8 with a 12-0 victory and Cottesloe claiming a 7-3 victory in Round 17. When they faced off again in the major semi-final, it was Nedlands that earned the one-week break and a spot in this Saturday’s grand final with a one-point victory over Cottesloe.
This is Cottesloe’s only team in the 2012 grand finals and they’ll no doubt have a very strong supporter base willing them over the line on Saturday afternoon. As the only team to have defeated Nedlands during the 2012 season, the Gulls will go in with some confidence that they can get the job done.
Nedlands were the standout side in the Fourth Grade Blue competition and finished the season with the minor premiership. Cottesloe will be a tough opponent but if Nedlands can maintain the form they’ve shown during the season, they’ll prove hard to beat.
Women’s
Perth Bayswater v Wanneroo
Saturday 29 September, 2012
Field 1 – Kick-off: 1.00pm
It was a one-sided affair between these two sides during the regular season with Wanneroo defeating Perth Bayswater in all three encounters by 25 points or more. It wasn’t until the major semi-final when the heat was really on that Perth Bayswater edged out Wanneroo – 10-5 – and progress straight through to the grand final.
After their semi-final loss, Wanneroo bounced back to defeat Cottesloe 19-5 in the preliminary final and will be eager to recover their winning form over Perth Bayswater and take home the trophy. They were the side to beat in 2012 and will carry favouritism into this match up.
Perth Bayswater is determined not to relinquish the reigning premiers title and will be battling it out for their sixth straight premiership.
4th Grade Gold
UWA v Nedlands
Saturday 29 September, 2012
Field 2 – Kick-off: 2.00pm
Minor premiers, UWA, hold the wood over their Nedlands counterparts for Saturday having beaten them 40-15 in Round One and 24-7 in Round 10.
UWA, who have only dropped one match during 2012, earned their week off with a 22-13 victory over Wanneroo in the major semi-final and will be refreshed and ready to go for a tilt at the title on Saturday. With 15 four-try bonus points this season, UWA are formidable attacking outfit and are expected to put on an entertaining game of rugby.
Nedlands will have their work cut out for them but with nothing to lose, could easily cause an upset on Saturday. After losing the grand final last year, they will be desperate to make amends.
4th Grade Black
Mandurah v Curtin Uni
Saturday 29 September, 2012
Field 1 – Kick-off: 2.30pm
These sides shared the spoils in 2012 with Curtin Uni drawing first blood in Round Three, keeping Mandurah scoreless in their 18-0 victory while in Round 12 it was Mandurah who took home the competition points in a low scoring hit-out, winning 7-5.
Mandurah earned their ticket into the grand final with a 21-5 victory over Curtin when the two sides met in the major semi-final. Winners of the minor premiership, Mandurah finished the season with 13 straight victories and will be hoping that winning form continues on the weekend.
Curtin Uni won a hard fought encounter with Joondalup to make it into the grand final and will need to be on top of their game against a hungry Mandurah on Saturday.
3rd Grade Gold
Nedlands v Kalamunda
Saturday 29 September, 2012
Field 2 – Kick-off: 3.30pm
It was a very one-sided affair in Round Five when Nedlands overwhelmed a lacklustre Kalamunda 62-0. However, Kalamunda put in a much stronger showing in their second meeting in Round 14 to defeat Nedlands, 23-20.
Minor premiers Nedlands proved they are the team to beat in this grade, losing just two games this season and finishing 17 points clear of their nearest rival on the ladder. The three-point loss to Kalamunda in latter stage of the competition will no doubt provide added incentive for the side to put in a master effort on Saturday.
Kalamunda finished the season in third position on the ladder and were forced to take the long route to the grand final. Defence will be the key to their victory on Saturday against a Nedlands were easily the best attacking side, scoring an average of more than 40 points per game.
3rd Grade Black
Curtin Uni v Mandurah
Saturday 29 September, 2012
Field 1 – Kick-off: 4.00pm
This is set to be another close game with these sides sharing he competition points during the season and a single point separating them in the major semi-final. Curtin Uni took the honours in Round Three (20-0) while Mandurah were the victors in Round 12, winning 18-6.
Curtin Uni will head into the grand final with the advantage of the week’s break after defeating Mandurah 17-16 in the first week of the finals. Coincidentally, Curtin is the best defensive team in the grade and Mandurah the premier attacking side.
Mandurah finished at the top of the table and despite the disappointment of their one-point semi-final loss to Curtin Uni, will be confident following their 31-0 demolition of Joondalup last week.
Under 18s
Wanneroo v UWA
Sunday 30 September, 2012
Field 1 – Kick-off: 11.00am
UWA will want to distance themselves from their Round Eight match against Wanneroo after they were defeated 51-12 and will be hoping this Sunday’s game will be more like their 11-5 victory in Round 17.
UWA took home the Under 18s premiership trophy in 2011 and will be hoping to back it up after an impressive finals series that has seen them progress to the grand final after finishing fourth on the ladder. They confront a big challenge in the top-of-the-ladder Wanneroo but will relish the home ground advantage.
Wanneroo has dominated the Under 18s competition in 2012 and will be very difficult to beat after finishing 23 points clear of their nearest opposition. They return to McGillivray Oval this weekend which was the scene for the side’s only defeat of the season.
Under 20s
Associates v Kalamunda
Sunday 30 September, 2012
Field 1 – Kick-off: 12.30pm
Associates are the resounding favourites heading into this grand final after claiming victory in all three matches between these sides this year. In Round Seven they claimed a 15-point win, in Round 16 they won by a converted try and in the major semi-final they advanced thanks to a 24-8 victory.
Despite their lack of success against the minor premiers, Kalamunda take some confidence into the match again the reigning premiers after an improved performance against UWA last weekend.
Associates won the premiership in 2011 and will be hoping they can kick-start a winning streak for their club on Sunday afternoon with their Reserve and Premier Grade teams also lining up. They finished well clear of their opposition on the ladder and have an exciting, attacking style of rugby that saw them average more than 35 points a game during the season.
Reserve Grade
UWA v Associates
Sunday 30 September, 2012
Field 1 – Kick-off: 2.10pm
UWA and Associates made good use of their home ground advantage when they met during the season and the Students will be pleased to have Sunday’s finals taking place at McGillivray Oval. In Round Five, UWA took the competition points on home soil with a 19-15 victory while Soaks turned the tables in Round 14, defeating University 16-3 at Allen Park.
The two sides are fairly evenly matched on paper, both scoring 564 points during the 2012 season while Soaks have conceded just six points more than the minor premier, Uni.
While UWA will carry the favourites tag into the match, Soaks will feature sides in both the Under 20s and Pindan Premier Grade grand finals and will be sure to have a very strong supporter base cheering them on from the hill.
Premier Grade
Nedlands v Associates
Sunday 30 September, 2012
Field 1 – Kick-off: 4.00pm
The Pindan Premier Grade grand final is set to be a thriller with the top two teams, Nedlands and Associates, battling it out for Western Australian rugby glory.
During the season, Nedlands took the points in Round Three defeating Soaks 22-13 while in Round 12 it was Associates who were celebrating after a nail-biting 25-23 victory that ended Neddies’ 11-match undefeated streak. They were pitted against each other in the major semi-final with Nedlands scoring a try in the dying minutes to win 22-18 and earn themselves a week’s rest and a ticket into Sunday’s grand final.
The 2012 Pindan Premier Grade finals series is Nedlands’ 30th consecutive campaign and they will be hungry to claim back the premiership trophy after a disappointing loss to UWA in the decider in 2011. Neddies finished just a point ahead of Soaks to take out the minor premiership.
Soaks won’t make it easy for them and will no doubt be keen for retribution after the heartbreaking four-point loss in the major semi. If their major semi-final loss taught them anything, they know they will need to play out the full 80 minutes if they are to return their first Premier Grade premiership since 2002.
Both sides are relentless in their attacking play and the crowd is sure to be treated to a spectacle on Sunday afternoon.