KWIK SENIOR COMPETITION - ROUND 17 PREVIEW
Friday, 1 August 2008 8:23am
by Rick Boyd
Associates and Rockingham clash at Allen Park on Saturday in a vital match for both clubs with just two games remaining before the finals of the RugbyWA club competition, sponsored by KWIK Crane and Transport Hire.
Just four points (that’s one win) separate sixth from third on the table, gridlocking this year’s competition as six teams attempt to fill the final four places for the semi-finals beginning on August 16.
Competition leaders Kalamunda have already wrapped up the minor premiership this year after falling during the semi-finals in 2007, and on 67 points are well clear of the pursuit and slotted into the major semi-final.
Season bolters Wanneroo are second after finishing with the wooden spoon in 2007, with a tiny safety margin on 53 points. Hot on their heels are Nedlands on 51 points and Rockingham on 49. Fifth and sixth on 47 points each are injury-stricken reigning premiers Perth-Bayswater and the hot young Associates team hitting peak form in time for the finals showdown.
Rockingham are ahead of Soaks on points but will finish their season against the tough Nedlands combination and must win this weekend to keep their place in the top four. Associates will be favourites to win their last game, over seventh-placed Cottesloe, although there are no easy games this year as Cottesloe showed when they toppled Nedlands two weeks ago.
With the other main contenders expecting a win this weekend, Rockingham and Associates know that the winner of this game is in with a chance and the loser will be left praying for miracles. Associates have no injuries going into the game and coach Steve McFarland has no illusions about the importance of the contest.
“We’re all getting to our day of reckoning, and Saturday is a very important game in terms of our season,” McFarland said.
“Rockingham are a good side, they’ve got some explosive ball runners and have produced some good results. We’re expecting a tough contest.
“They have a strong tight five, (loose forward) Ryan Tyrell is one of the best players in the competition this year, and they have backs who are very quick and good steppers.
“They’re a well balanced side”.
Form has been even in recent weeks, Soaks defeating Nedlands and Palmyra while Rockingham lost to Wanneroo and Perth-Bayswater, but Rocky gave Kalamunda their biggest loss of the season while Associates went down to the competition leaders. Rockingham won the early season encounter over Soaks at Lark Hill 26-23.
“That game down in Rockingham was wild and wintry, and we gave them some soft scores,” McFarland said.
“We had periods of attack but we lacked concentration. We have to maintain our composure and concentrate for the duration of the game.”
Associates are similar to Rockingham in their balance of strong forwards and talented backs and like Rockingham produce a well balanced game. McFarland sees Associates as developing towards the finals and capable of beating Rockingham at Allen Park.
“We’ve been going along quite nicely this season although obviously we slipped in the last few games,” McFarland said.
“At Wanneroo, when they had four or five Western Force players in their side, and against Kalamunda, who are a very good side.
“But we’ve made good progress this year and hopefully this Saturday we’ll take another step up.
McFarland cites the Nedlands game at Allen Park as proof of Associates’ potential, coming back from a 34-10 deficit to win 37-34.
“We were well down against Nedlands and we kept at it.
“Against Rockingham, we have to keep our concentration and ensure we’re good at the set piece and good at the breakdown, and don’t let in any soft scores.
“Against Kalamunda they had a lot of territory and lot of dominance but at half time it was only 14-7, and in the second half we probably dominated but unfortunately an intercept try ended the contest.
“We had some very good passages of play and defended well, but Kalamunda are outstanding ball runners and a very good side.”
With the finals two weeks away, McFarland isn’t indulging in too many calculations about who will finish where.
“We’ve got to win the next two games, and they’re two very tough games,” McFarland said.
“At the end of the day, we can control our own destiny and make sure we’re successful but the other teams are still playing and depending on other results we could finish as high as third or as low as sixth.
“We’ve got to get out and win on Saturday; everything else is outside our control.
“The only team I’m concerned about is Associates. If we’re good enough to get there, we’ll do that.”
In other games this weekend, Kalamunda should be cruising to the finals against Cottesloe at Harvey Field, Wanneroo will be counting on five points over Palmyra at Kingsway, a resurgent Perth-Bayswater should account for the difficult Wests-Subiaco team at Rosalie Park and Nedlands will be expecting the points after meeting University at McGillivray Oval.
