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Round 11 Wrap Up
06-07-2009
150 years. One winner. One point. That was the equation on Saturday when two teams celebrating their 75th anniversaries – Nedlands and Palmyra – squared off in their crucial round 11 fixture. Top-of-the-table Paly went into the game having dropped just one game in their previous 10 outings. For Neddies the equation was much different and straight forward – a win was vital to stay in the hunt for the finals.
The 1st Grade headed to Tompkins Park with a growing injury list, with Sam Hutchison’s broken leg against Perth seeing the promising halfback join the likes of Stu Farquharson, Juan “JP” Pretorius, Harry “Chopper” Cogin and Barry Mansfield on the sideline. What’s more, coach Tony Ball was also without Tyson Takiari with a groin strain , in the forwards, while an ongoing injury concern confined last season’s player of the year, Dan “DB” Bailey, to the bench.
But if there was a message to come out of Saturday’s game, it was to never doubt the guts and courage of a Neddies team with their backs to the wall. Neddies rattled the home team early on with two tries to outstanding flanker Blair Morris and fullback Jimmy Vakaruru to snatch a 12-0 lead before Paly hit back with two tries to put their nose ahead 14-12. Then the game hit its most controversial point when two consecutive Neddies tries were disallowed.
While such a setback would have caused lesser teams to drop their bundle, Neddies showed great resolve by scoring a third try to Mike “Devo” Denton, whose conversion saw Nedlands go to the break with a deserved 19-14 lead. The second half was just as tense. While Palmyra scored the first two tries of the half, Devo Dents banged over two crucial penalty goals – in the face of some raucous heckling – to steal a 25-24 lead going into the final quarter. Then, after Neddies had kept Paly pinned in their 22 through some sustained pressure, halfback Nathan Roberts created enough space in the Paly defence to burrow through for another great captain’s try. When Devo Dents converted, Neddies had a crucial eight point buffer at 32-24.
While Paly threw everything at the visitors, Neddies defended like demons before tearaway flanker Richie “Rat” Naylor executed a perfect Stacey Jones banana kick as the final whistle beckoned. Only problem was Rat’s banana kick bent the wrong way and fell into the hands of the opposition, who ultimately scored under the posts. However, Neddies still prevailed 32-31, with a valuable bonus point to boot. Apart from the application, discipline and endeavour, the win against Paly showed Neddies had rediscovered that vital ingredient – confidence. There were heroes across the park for the team formerly known as the Royal Blues, who had invaluable support off the bench from the likes of Joey Egan and TJay Asiata, who made a welcomed return to 1st Grade ranks.
It’s an old cliché, but it’s now a week by week proposition for Nedlands in the march towards the finals – with Saturday’s away game against Soaks at Allen Park the next hurdle. That game has extra significance because it gives Neddies an opportunity to break a three-year hoodoo against the boys from Swanbourne, who now sit fourth on the ladder, one position above Neddies. As Buddha would say, Go you good things!
The fine conditions suited the 2nd Grade at Tompkins Park, as was soon proven by flyhalf Cody Cole who scored our first try in just the second minute of play after some brilliant running from fullback Brycie. However Paly hit back 4 minutes later with their own try and continued to apply pressure for the next quarter of an hour. But the Neddies defence held firm. No 8 Joey Egan exposed Paly with some of his trademark sorties from the back of the scrum and the pendulum slowly swung back toward Neddies favour, with Ren D’Alberto slotting a penalty for a 10-5 halftime lead.
The second half started in much the same way as had the first with a try from a set piece tap penalty move to that well recognised athlete and "running back" Damo Pacecca. Damo's stunning performance, which can be found here (and also, all over twitter, myspace, youtube and the whole of the RugbyWA offices) clearly shocked Paly as, from this point, the Neddies machine continued to dominate the match. Paly were under even more pressure when a red card reduced the home team to 14 players for the last 30 minutes of the game. Neddies took full advantage, with winger Scotty McMillan and Cody scoring tries – the latter after a great banana kick from The Brat, which unlike the Rat’s kick curved the right way. Paly struck back from the kick-off before Mike Dolan came off the bench with great impact making two or three slashing runs, soon to be joined by the next try-scorer Chris Doherty, returning from a long injury break. The final score was a bonus point 36-12 which included Ren’s best performance with the boot. The result gives the 2nds a nine-point buffer at the head of the table, though no room for complacency with matches against the three other top teams looming.
In 3rd Grade Gold, Neddies went down 8-10 to Palmyra at Tompkins, while across at Murdoch, the Cavaliers suffered a narrow 32-34 loss to Southern Lions in 3rd Grade Black.
In 4th Grade Gold, the mighty Shamwaris’ got back into the winner’s circle with a gutsy 31 to 20 win over Palmyra. Several players made up the numbers being elevated up to the Shamwaris from Under 20 and 3rd Grade Gold. Thanks heaps to Danny, Matt Caporn, Chris Naylor, Marty Scoon, Mason Fantasia, Mike Wiktora, Conrad and Bryn Vaughan from the 3rd Grade and Bob Carter from Under 20’s. Later in the game 2 Under 20 Blues guys came all the way from Perth Bayswater to play as well. We had forwards in the backline who were right at home, executing deft switches and cut-out passes. Even TJ’s brother made a cameo appearance near the end. Conditions were fine, an excellent ref allowed the game to flow and we had our 4 try bonus point by half time. Paly came back strong in the 2nd half, but resolute defence restricted them to 3 tries and coming second on the day. Thanks to all of the supporters and players helping us out during this period of Uni holidays.
In 4th Grade Black, most of the Nomads backline was out from injury or flu as Neddies headed to Murdoch to play Southern Lions. But just before kick-off legend Spotty Ryburn showed up. The new-look backline of Piccalo at half then Spotty, Spencer and Haydos looked like they had played together for years. The young Southern Lions front row caused a few problems early on against our 140-year-old front row, which included legend Reggie. After a couple of difficult scrums he transposed into King Kong. Then the game really started. ET lasted 10 minutes due to an ageing calf muscle. In came Fitzy and got the forwards playing well. All rounder Blackie tried another infamous kick, which was picked up easily by a Southern Lions player who jogged down the other end to score. Apprentice Ryan Carter got his start at flanker. Spotty magically set up his backline with many bursting runs coming from Spencer and kept putting the Nomads over the advantage line. On the side line ET’s head was moving like a Bombay tea boy. Good runs from Dan Cockburn onto the ball kept the Nomads pack moving forward. When Spotty got close to the line he forgot he was over 50, stepping and diving with one arm out, grounded the ball for his try, got the Nomads to the break 7-8 down. A wide ball to Gadget did what he does best, that is to “out-gazelle” everyone. Blackie, 5 minutes later was trying to make amends for woeful kicking, silhouetted or lost his balanced but stayed on his feet long enough thanks to his mid section gyroscope got across to raise the points again. All the lineouts where won with Alasdair Malloch-Smith having extra spring in his step after getting engaged last weekend. The Nomad forwards won good ball for centres that kept penetrating. The Southern Lions were showing signs of backing off from the pressure when Baron Fitz got across for his try. Gadget got a second and best try of the season due to the classic in-outs. Piccalo’s nephews Pomare and Tawhai, also known as Pete and Taff, upset the Southern Lions even more, with Taff cutting them to bits and getting the last try. Haydos slotted 5 kicks from six giving the table-topping Nomads a good win of 40 to 8.
In Colts, RSV Nedlands Blue travelled to Perth-Bayswater and went down 14-26, while RSV Nedlands Gold had a bye. In the Under 18s, Nedlands faded to go down 5-17 to Palmyra at Tompkins Park, where there was some rugby played amongst all the sledging.
Saturday sees The Cavaliers and 3rd Grade Gold head down to Bunbury, whilst the rest of Neddies head to Allen Park at twilight to break the Soaks hoodoo. So get down there and show your colours!
Below are kickoff times for next weeks fixtures at Allen Park.
1st Grade 7.35pm - Field 1
2nd Grade 6.00pm - Field 1
U20s Gold 4.00pm - Field 1
3rd Grade Black 3.00pm - Field 2
U18s 2.40pm - Field 1
Nomads 1:50pm - Field 2
U20s Blue 1.20pm - Field 1 (vs Curtin)
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