Associates have won a thrilling Pindan Premier Grade grand final, downing the minor premiers Nedlands, 23-17.
The scores were even at the half time break but a couple of tries early in the second half for Soaks gave them a little breathing space. Nedlands added a converted try with six minutes still on the clock but just a minute later Soaks flyhalf Kyle Godwin slotted a drop goal to extend the lead to six points.
Nedlands camped out in Associates’ territory for the final five minutes of the game but couldn’t break through the defense and a wayward pass into touch signaled the end of the match.
Associates’ coach Andy Cole was elated with his team’s performance in the decider.
“It’s huge for the club and the individuals. It’s been 10 years since we won our last premiership and these are the guys that I coached,” Cole said.
“It was a hard and tough game the whole day. I don’t want to take anything away from Neddies, they were in that game right until the end,” he said.
The Soaks boss applauded his team’s defensive efforts.
“I’m really proud of the guy’s defence, particularly in the last twenty minutes, I think they dug deep,” he said.
“Neddies came really hard at us and the boys dug deep, that’s huge.”
Nedland’s coach Tony Ball was shattered his side fell at the final hurdle.
“To lose a grand final, there is nothing but devastation,” Ball said.
“We just didn’t get enough points and weren’t good enough on the day but that’s fair.”
Nedlands opened the scoring in the 15th minute of play when a turnover ball allowed outside centre Cam Crowley to dash through the midfield. Crowley offloaded to winger Matt Venter who sprinted the remaining 15 metres to score an exhilarating opening try.
Halfback Mike Botes missed the conversion as Neddies took a 5-0 lead.
In the 23rd minute Soaks’ outside centre Aamon Matuauto burst through the Nedlands defence and sprinted towards the try line. An offload to Emirates Western Force squad member Kyle Godwin secured the 5 points as the fly half scored under the posts.
Full back Matt Dreyer converted the try and Soaks took a 7-5 lead.
A Neddies rolling maul from an attacking lineout on the half hour mark was executed perfectly and prop Marlon Walker dropped over the line to score his side’s second try. Botes missed his second conversion for the day but Nedlands had taken a 10-7 lead.
Hands in the ruck from Nedlands in their own half allowed Soaks a penalty 35m from goal. A reliable Dreyer split the posts and leveled the scores at 10 apiece.
Strong attacking play from Associates threatened the Nedlands try line early in the second half. A string of clean passes down the line enabled Associates flanker Alex Rovira to collect an offload and score in the corner.
Dreyer missed the conversion but Soaks had drawn first blood of the second half and edged in front 15-10 on the 47th minute.
A botched cross-field kick from Nedlands fly half Sam Rarasea landed in the arms of Associates winger Caillan Richards. Richards sprinted 40m to the try line and crossed in the corner to further Associates’ lead. The conversion was again missed and Soaks had established a 20-10 lead.
A break from Nedlands hooker Mason Pomare took play to the Soaks 22 before Cam Crowley was able to break the line and score under the posts for Nedlands on the 74th minute. The conversion was successful with Soaks leading by three points with 10 minutes to play.
A 75th minute drop goal to Godwin extended Soak’s lead to six points and proved to be the final points of the match.
There was a sense of Déjà vu in the air as Soaks were left defending their line for the final five minutes with a desperate Nedlands needing a converted try to win the game.
Their defence held strong and Nedlands were unable to score with the final play of the game. Soaks had reversed the result from the Preliminary final two weeks ago and won the final game of the year. Associates Hooker Anthony Savovski was named player of the match.