Pindan Premier Grade Preview - Week 16

 

The Pindan Premier Grade Match of the Round sees Cottesloe and Wanneroo face off for a possible position in the top four on Saturday afternoon at Harvey Field.

 

There are six teams still in finals contention but with the top two positions well and truly cemented for Nedlands and Associates, the battle remains with Palmyra, Cottesloe, UWA and Wanneroo for third and fourth.

 

Cottesloe currently occupy fourth place on the ladder after suffering a 22-13 defeat against fellow top four contenders and defending champions UWA last Saturday.

 

Gulls coach Ian Fowler was disappointed with his team’s performance last weekend, but is keen for them to atone for their poor performance against the Students’.

 

“Last weekend is a long of the past and I am happy it is as I believe we were very poor in both the first and second half,” he said.

 

“This weekend we face an in-form Wanneroo side, who after a big win last weekend are still a mathematical chance of sneaking into the top four.

 

“There are still three matches left in the season, but as the old cliché goes – it’s one week at time, so I am only focusing on winning this fixture and then looking into our other matches.

 

“If we win on Saturday and other results go in our favour we pretty much have one foot in the door for finals, so I am determined we can secure a victory come Saturday at five o’clock.”

 

Fowler said his side is struggling with injuries after losing two players last weekend, but Cottesloe will welcome back Stefan Cooper who has missed the last few weeks with injury.

 

“Last weekend against UWA was a tough match and there were several injuries, so I am obviously happy to welcome Stefan back into the side,” he continued.

 

“It won’t be an easy game for us this weekend as Wanneroo have a strong forward back, which as a result has seen our training focus on our ruck defence.

 

“This weekend is a must win for Cott, so I am expecting my players to be up for the challenge that Wanneroo are going to throw at us.”

 

The visitors to Harvey field this weekend are Wanneroo, who currently sit sixth on the table after recording a 44-25 win over Wests Subiaco last weekend.

 

Wanneroo coach Tony Munro believes his team is still a chance at securing a position in the top four, but admits they are going to need some luck.

 

“We can still make the top four mathematically; however, we are obviously going to need to come away from our remaining fixtures with big wins and for results to go in our favour,” he said.

 

 “In saying that; we come up against a very good unit in Cott on Saturday, who are in a very similar position to us and know that a win will but end our finals chance.

 

“I know that if my players perform the way they have been over the last month and can produce a similar performance, we are a fantastic chance to beat Cottesloe.”

 

Munro, new to Wanneroo at the beginning of the year, said his team took some time to adjust to his methods, but believes they are now playing to the right game plan.

 

“At the beginning of the year we were giving away silly wins as it took the players a bit of time to gel and play the way I wanted them to,” he continued.

 

“The last four or five weeks I have seen a change in the way the players go about their business and they have all become more accountable on the field.

 

“We have a few injuries this weekend, but I am confident the players that are coming in are more than capable of helping us achieve the goal of victory on Saturday.”

The 2012 season has not been a memorable one for both Perth Bayswater and Rockingham as they sit third-bottom and bottom of the Pindan Premier Grade table respectively.

 

The hosts suffered a tough loss against league leaders, Nedlands, 22-17 last weekend and as a result will be hoping to go one step better this Saturday.  In the last two matches of the season, Baysie play host two top four contenders Palmyra and Associates, so the match against Rockingham presents them with the best opportunity to secure a win before the end of their campaign.

 

Rockingham’s poor season went from bad to worse last weekend after they were defeated by fellow strugglers Kalamunda 5-28.  Slipping to bottom-of-the-table after last Saturday’s loss, a win against the hosts is a must if they are to fight off the dubious honour of winning the wooden spoon for 2012.

 

The last time these two sides met they produced one of the matches of the 2012 Pindan Premier Grade season as Nedlands came away with a nail-biting one point victory in June.

 

Wests Subiaco’s recent poor form continued last weekend as they were outclassed 44-25 by Wanneroo, which was their third consecutive defeat.  The hosts were a top four contender earlier this season and will be hoping to replicate their form if they are to cause an upset against the league leaders.

 

Nedlands sit six points clear at the top of the table after they secured their second consecutive victory after defeating Perth Bayswater 22-17 last Saturday.  A win over Wests on Saturday will all but secure the minor championship and give the visitors their 14^th victory of the 2012 campaign.

 

The 2012 campaign has been very different for each side as the hosts currently sit second-bottom of the ladder, while Associates sit comfortably in second place.

 

Last weekend saw Kalamunda secure their second victory of the Pindan Premier Grade season and move off bottom position after they outclassed Rockingham 28-5.  They face a more difficult unit in the Associates, but will be going into the match with the hope of causing an upset to secure their third victory of 2012.

 

Associates had been on an eight game undefeated streak before they suffered a 15-20 loss against Palmyra last weekend.  Currently sitting seven points clear of Paly and only six behind Nedlands, the match against Kalamunda offers them the perfect opportunity to get back into the winners circle and push for the minor championship.

 

The final match of round 16 sees Palmyra and UWA battle it out for a coveted top four finals position.

 

Last weekend the third-placed Paly ended the in-form Associates eight match undefeated streak with an impressive 15-20 victory.  Currently on their own four match undefeated streak and sitting four points in front of the visitors; the hosts know a victory is essential against the Students’ and will all but secure a position in the top four for the 2012 campaign.