Uni Rugby Ruckus

Edition 12, 4 August 2011 www.uwarugby.com.au

Freezing and wet conditions faced UWA at Rockingham and the prospect of

dropping games was not to be entertained by the Club. 1st Grade saw 4th

Grade Black snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, enjoy the ease of a 2nd

Grade win and sought to make a statement with eh highest number of season

wins for 1st Grade (11) since 2005.

1st started with skill with a centre field break through the centres led to Dom Le

Spierre racing away in his iusual style to score in the corner. Rocky hit straight

back with a try under the posts.

Further tries to Cian O’Connor and Alan Kingsley who added a conversion and penalty sealed Rockingham’s fate 20-

15 and kept us in 2nd spot on the table with 55 points. Critically we can not lose 2nd spot and the double chance in

the semis as we are 11 points clear of 3rd place. Soaks Cott and Wests all sit on 44 points with Paly on 40 and

Wanneroo on 38 all statistically able to get up.

This semi final spot has been well earned on the back of a great attack with 420

for and 336 against from 16 games so far). The last time this level of scoring for

1st was seen was 1977 when we scored 434-127 but that was in 22 games.

Our record at home is good against Cott in the last 5 years with 2 wins and

3 losses but away against Soaks we have only won 1 and lost 4. But this is

definitely a different year and 2 games that 1st want to make a statement to the final four contenders..

1STS SECURE A SEMI FINALS SPOT

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE WITHIN GRASP With results up to July 23 UWA have finally taken the lead in the Club Championships with 1509 points from Nedlands on 1503 and Cottesloe in third place on 1490 points. Nedlands is always a club to model and the final two games of the season will provide defining results. It has literally been 20 years (1991) since we last won this coveted award and this table reminds us of the fantastic progress UWA rugby continues to make in 2011. Well done, everyone, be you player, volunteer, supporter!! Boyd Herewini Club President

As at 30 July this lead has extended to UWA 1642, Nedlands 1615 and Cott 1605. With two tough encounters in Cott and Soaks still to come this prestigious title is there for the winning. There is little motivation needed to win your last 2 games as all teams strive to do this. Finals places are available. Also the outcome of your teams achievement can have great benefit to the Clubs chances of success.

In each of the last 2 weeks we have won 7 out of our 9 games. Even if a team were to be beaten by a better side on the day the importance to pick up a bonus point for within 7 or a bonus for 4 tries may be the deciding factor. This weekend 4th Blue and U/18 Green won games (well done Jimmy and Princess) we were not sure were there for the taking. But in doing so has propelled us further ahead in the Club Championships points table (NOTE - yet to be ratified by Rugby WA so these are my stats).

So lets make a statement and strive for maximum points in these last 2 games, 20 years on we can be title holders again.

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2NDS FINISHING SEASON OFF IN STYLE A case of too little too late as 2nds move up to 5th spot however are 15

points adrift of 4th place, so working for team mates and Club

Championships points is the goal.

Rockingham didn't pose to many challenges although we were soundly

defeated in Rd 1 by a strong Rockingham. With only 3 teams their club

depth has been tested and were found out today. Tries to OStratton,

young Colt Stu Cross and a rejuvenated and fitter Jason Bourke under the

posts were the highlight of a game Coach Brooks had good control of.

Levon added another 16 points to his haul to keep pressure on Rocky

whenever they slipped up.

This makes three wins on the trot. Drawing to Wests 17-17, losing to

neddies by 3 and Kala by 7 and another draw to Kala hurt the seasons

chances and it could have been so much more. But this success has

provided great support to 1sts and a good pathway for players to press for

1stGrade spots.

Uni Rugby Ruckus

Edition 12, 4 August 2011 www.uwarugby.com.au

INFINITY 4TH BLUE WIN Yes we were to play Joondalup again, not at home this time but away, and supposedly the other Joondalup al-though they all looked the same to me.

But that happens with far northerners you can never tell them apart! Numbers were again tight and being away from the rest of the club more difficult. However at kick off time we had thrown together a team of sorts and we had Animal and a couple of geriatric invalids on the bench and away we went. Special thanks to Will from the U20s who ran on and played the whole game for us, your assis-tance was greatly appreciated.

The game started surprisingly well we hit the ball up in attack, made our tackles in defence and won our share of line out ball. The biggest issue was the rate at which the scrum was going backwards but we persisted and hoped that we could at least hold our own. We were well and truly camped in their half and the pressure gave us a reward when Big Al bashed his way over to score, Dave L. duly converted and we were all feeling reasonably confident. A number of phases in the half continued and a penalty within range was too good to refuse and Dave L. slotted the penalty.

At half time the usual talk about not over committing and to get the ball to the backs and out we went for the second half. The scrums finally settled and we were winning tightheads, the line out was dominating with our jumper stealing their ball at Will (sorry)! Clinton went for a great run down the wing, from some great phase ball and good backs run-ning, and scored our second try. Joondalup rotated a small army of players against us, from the small, to medium, to the huge but we still managed to defend against all these fresh legs. However the tiniest momentary lapses in con-centration let in a couple of tries which gave Joondalup a sniff. In many ways the final whistle was blown at the right time and we came away with the deserved 15 – 12 win.

Well done by all and special thanks to all who got down there, playing or not playing, fit, unfit or injured. Let’s back up for Cottesloe this week. Princess

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MUZZ BUZZ 4TH GRADE BLACK For those who weren’t there on Sat (and given the appalling conditions who could blame you if you weren’t?), despite being heavily undermanned due to front five unavailabilities, a 3rd placed Rockingham (who are 3rd last in 1st grade, last in 2nds and have no 3rds) suddenly fielding a suspiciously young and fit side in 4th grade (hmmm) and us being down 0-7 with only minutes left on the clock, somehow the boys conjured a win to go down in Uni Muzz Buzz folklore.

Firstly apologies for being late today, felt like a tit. None the less days like today are the days that bring you back, as much as a premiership win, maybe more, everyone aimed up and we got the win, and it was @#$%-ing fantastic. In the change room after the game the guys we’re as animated as I have seen them all year and the camaraderie was palpable. Anyway, ‘twas a good win and the beer taste better for it. Best part is we put those mother @#$%-ers out of the top four. Yeehaa! Willo

Uni Rugby Ruckus

Edition 12, 4 August 2011 www.uwarugby.com.au

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Uni Rugby Ruckus

Edition 12, 4 August 2011 www.uwarugby.com.au

WAZZA’S JOKE OF THE WEEK

A priest dies and is waiting in line at the Pearly Gates. Ahead of him is a guy who's dressed in sunglasses, a loud shirt, leather jacket, and jeans. Saint Peter addresses this cool guy, 'Who are you, so that I may know whether or not to recommend that you be admitted you to the Kingdom of Heaven ? ' The guy replies, 'I'm Jack , retired Continental Airlines pilot from Houston . Saint Peter consults his list. He smiles and says to the pilot, 'Take this silken robe and golden staff and enter the Kingdom.' The pilot goes into Heaven with his robe and staff. Next, it's the priest's turn. He stands erect and booms out, 'I am Father Bob, pastor of Saint Mary's in Pasa-dena for the last 43 years. Saint Peter consults his list. He says to the priest, 'Take this cotton robe and wooden staff and enter the Kingdom. 'Just a minute,' says the good father. 'That man was a pilot and he gets a silken robe and golden staff and I get only cotton and wood. How can this be?' Up here - we go by results,' says Saint Peter. 'When you preached people slept. When he flew, people prayed.'

JUNIORS HAVING SUCCESSFUL SEASON TOO U16 WON 77-7 v Kwinana U13 lost 19-24 v Sth Lions

U15 WON 12-7 v Paly U12 WON 60-12 v Rockingham

U14 lost 12-39 v Sth Lions U11 WON 31-12 v Sth Lions

U16 Report

The U16 squad came back from the school holiday break with a new determination. There had been some bad habits and laziness creeping into the game three weeks ago but the lads dominated this game against an inexperi-enced Kwinana team. It was a team effort with the forwards laying a solid platform and providing ball aplenty to the backs. Coach Greg Wapshaw tried some players in new positions and ensured everyone got a run. Tries went to Captain Kai, Slatts, Keegan L, Wee Jo, Yinnie got 2, mad dog Marcus scored 3, Kozzie, 2 to the Ginga, and finaly Morts scored too. Well done to the team Uni 77; Kwinana 7. We have three games of the regular season left – we need three strong wins.

The U15s The U15’s prevailed again this weekend. Running in two tries to one, the Barbarians showed a lot of courage in a hard fought 12-7 win over the ladder leading Palmyra side for the first time this season. With only three games re-maining momentum is building for an exciting finals campaign. Coach Steve Dunn

CENTURIANS

100 Games

Sam Medway (1sts/2nds) and Paul Scalzi (4th Blue) this week v Cott

Franklin Lough 4 more games

150th Game

Mal Washbourne in win over Rocky

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COLTS TALENT IN OUR MIDST— HARDWICK AND McCARTHY SELECTED FOR AUSTRALIA

Congratulations to UWA Colts players Richard Hardwick and Pat McCarthy who were recently selected in the Australia ‘A’ team after a successful Australian Schoolboys Championships.

Captain Richard Hardwick playing at flanker and a student at Churchlands Senior High School played particularly well in WA victory of Qld 2. He is a member of the Bankwest Academy. Richard brother Grant is a UWA student who plays in the centres and wing. Aquinas halfback Pat McCarthy was also selected in the ‘A’ side and is also a Bankwest Academy member. Pats father Tony coached Uni juniors for several seasons and played at half back for Uni in the early 1980’s The WA will be on show against England’s U18 in Sydney in August. Australia ‘A’ Schoolboys v England U18 Wednesday, 24 August at St Ignatius College, Sydney

Uni Rugby Ruckus

Edition 12, 4 August 2011 www.uwarugby.com.au

REP SUCCES FOR UWA COLTS SPENCE AND U/16 CHRISTIAN Conor Spence (Trinity College) and Alex Christian (Scotch College) have been selected into an expanded squad of 31 to be reduced to 23 for WA U/16 tour of ACT and then on to the National Championship in Sydney from 23-30 September.

Conor, coached by his father Kathal “Buddha” Spence in the U/18’s has played Conor at No8. Other son Lachlan plays at scum half. Buddha has many years of playing and coaching and is leading the U/18 Colts Gold in theirsemi final season.

Alex is a Scotch College student who plays mostly as #8 but has been known to provide strength and depth at out-side centre. A fast and strong runner with an excellent understanding of the game.

PLAYS OF THE DAY Rockingham capt and flanker who put hands in scrum going backward to give us penalty for Colin Mackay-Coghill to convert winning penalty goal.

Bill Bowman playing on after injury back in 4th Black when we only had 14 players to ensure our win.

Mitch Hardy throwing his body on the line to prevent a Rocky try

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Uni Rugby Ruckus

Edition 12, 4 August 2011 www.uwarugby.com.au

KINGSLEY CRACKS 100 POINTS With his 1 try, conversion and penalty Alan is the third player to have reached the 100 points milestone this season.

Levon Kvas-Rothwell kicked 6 from 8 to add more stats to the records in 2nds 31-20 win and sits 2nd in points table.

Catriona White women’s team scored a hat trick of tries last week

L Hema kicked 4 goals to join the record books

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Uni Rugby Ruckus

Edition 12, 4 August 2011 www.uwarugby.com.au

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FROM THE ARCHIVES—1997

Uni Rugby Ruckus

Edition 12, 4 August 2011 www.uwarugby.com.au