UWA has climbed into third place on the Pindan Premier Grade ladder after overcoming Wests Subiaco 41-29 at McGillivray Oval this afternoon.
Having started the round in fourth, UWA withstood the neck-and-neck first half battle to hold a two-point lead at the break, before kicking on for three second half tries to secure the 12-point victory.
University coach Steve McFarland said the victory would hold his side in good stead with leading into the final rounds of the regular season.
“We are certainly very relieved,” he said. “We played some good rugby at times, but a side like Wests are always very dangerous and there were a few anxious moments, but I’m very pleased overall.
“We’ve got a tough run coming up playing some good sides around us. We go from here to Associates, Cottesloe and Palmyra in the next couple of weeks so we’ve got a tough road ahead of us.”
It was the visitors who drew first blood with fullback Allan Wheeler crossing in the opening minutes, with Teava TeRangi converting for an early 7-0 lead.
However, the students responded with interest hitting back with two tries and an Andy Finn conversion for a 12-7 advantage.
The lead was short-lived with TeRangi adding a straightforward penalty and a conversion for his side’s second try to reclaim the lead.
UWA hit back in the final 10 minutes of the first half when Mike Innes touched down, with Finn adding the extras for a 19-17 half-time lead.
The home side continued the second half where they finished the first, with Alan Gaughan crossing the 52nd minute before Innes crossed for his second six minutes later. Finn converted both, including one from the sideline, to afford his side some breathing room at 31-17.
TeRangi then slid across for a converted try shortly afterwards, however, any though of a comeback began to diminish when UWA’s Christian Joubert broke the line and set sail down field for a 38-24 lead.
Wheeler crossed for a second try after UWA were reduced to 14 men, however, it proved little more than a consolation try as with Finn rounding out the 41-29 scoreline with a penalty goal in the dying minutes.