2007 Challenge Cup Round 3
Sunday, 18 March 2007 1:16am
by Rick Boyd
South ran out the winner of Rugby WA’s pre-season Challenge Cup for the second consecutive year with a decisive 48-26 win over a game but outgunned East team. The win gave South a clean sweep of the Challenge Cup series. In the other game, Central proved too strong for North, winning 31-12 in 35 degree heat.
The pre-season competition combines the best of Perth's clubs into four regional teams, from which the state team, Perth Gold, will be selected by coach Willie Van Dyke.
Central led North 24-5 at half time and never looked like losing, although North started and finished the game strongly. South were in a different class in the other game, leading 26-0 at half time and despite a spirited late showing by East, it was mostly one way traffic.
In the opening game, North immediately set up camp in Central's 22 and hammered their line for 15 minutes' without reward, until Central gained a relieving penalty and escaped to half way.
North went back on attack and wing Charlie Norcross scored the best non-try of the series, weaving through a thicket of defenders to dive under the bar only to drop the ball in the tackle. Instead Central blindside flanker Kris Martinick charged upfield, setting the Central back line alight for a flying try in the corner to wing Harry Cogin on the 20 minute mark.
Into the second quarter and Central made headway, scoring a second try through Cogin but again flyhalf Billy Blair steered the conversion wide and Central remained at 10-0. But from a penalty lineout five minutes later flanker Blair Morris slipped over to score beside the posts for Central's third try. This time Blair converted from in front and Central went ahead 17-0.
North tried hard and had the odd break but it inevitably came undone and Central hit back, Morris scoring his second after a North player passed to one of the opposition by mistake. Blair slotted the simple conversion and Central were 24-0 up approaching half time.
Just before the break North had one last flourish as Central lost number eight Will Brock to the sin bin, and reserve wing Liam Loosher scored in the corner after the tap penalty. Norcross missed the conversion and North trailed 24-5 at half time.
Central camped in North's 22 for the opening ten minutes of the second spell, but without result, and a penalty and lineout moved North downfield and onto attack.
North mounted ten minutes of attack in return, assaulting Central's line from penalty lineouts and continuous phases of attack until the forwards rolled a maul over the line, prop Rob Salotti claiming the try. Norcross converted and North closed the gap to 24-12.
North had the better of the later stages and returned to hammering Central's line, but Central broke free with ten minutes to play and Cogin notched up his hat trick under the posts. Blair converted the sitter and Central increased their lead to 31-12.
North went back on attack to close out the game but couldn't add to their score.
The North team featured the talents of the Force’s Brett Stapleton on the wing, Tom Hocking at lock and Luke Holmes at hooker, with Norcross and Martinick outstanding. For Central, Pek Cowan represented the Force and lock Kiti Fuluna, flanker Blair Morris and wing Harry Cogin starred.
The game was ably adjudicated by Andrew Lindsay, a referee on the national panel and TMO for the Force-Reds game the night before. Perth is to benefit from Andrew’s expertise as he is moving to WA for three years.
In the second game, South opened strongly and attacked for ten minutes but East drove them downfield to return the favour. It wasn't until 15 minutes in that a penalty lineout took South back into enemy territory, where a tap penalty enabled flyhalf James Stannard and huge wing Ratu Siganiyaui to put scrumhalf Gus Martyn in to score. Stannard converted and South had an early 7-0 lead
East made inroads into the second quarter but South rebounded and almost scored in the corner when Stannard kicked across field but the bouncing ball just eluded Siganiyaui. There was no mistake a minute later when inside centre Dave Cloete set up centre Mola Pelesasa for a try with some midfield sleight of hand. Stannard added the extras and South was 14-0 up.
South were at it again minutes later when the ball sped out along the back line and Siganiyaui sidestepped his opposite number with insulting ease and loped in for the try. And again with five minutes to play in the half, big wing Nems Momo gathering a missed line kick and passing across to fullback Damien Harris, who weaved through poor defence to score close to the posts. Stannard did the honours and South took the 26-0 lead into half time.
The roll continued 2 minutes into the second half when the South forwards drove over from a penalty lineout, hooker Ryan Tyrell making the touchdown.
Ten minutes into the spell Easts turned on a short period of attack despite a moment of unpleasantness that saw East prop Peter Adams spending ten minutes on the sideline, but Siganiyaui broke out, supported by Western Force blindside flanker Matt Windle. Stannard ran for the corner and Momo finished with a charge over the line.
East didn't give up and worked back downfield with centre Charles Henry and wing Hamilton Vaalepu combining well down the touchline before Force flanker Michael Dan drove over for the try with most of the forward pack on top of him. Number 8 Jock Stanley converted and East gained consolation points at 36-7, 17 minutes into the second spell.
Not satisfied, East went back for more minutes later and flanker Matt O'Brien was driven over in a similar fashion under the bar. Stanley slotted the sitter for a slightly more creditable 36-14 score.
But wait, there's more as Vaalepu ran wide only to be tackled short, reserve prop Sui Uaga claiming the try from yet another forward drive.
But South were soon back in business, running and kicking downfield for dynamic flanker Jerry Viriki to plunge over for the try. Stannard converted and South's margin was restored at 43-19.
The non-stop action continued with South back on attack and reserve prop Andrew Tafa scoring a try while lurking on the wing, and having the gall to sidestep a defender on the way there.
East had the last word just before full time when Vaalepu snatched an intercept while South was in full flight on attack, sprinting 60 metres to touch down in the corner. Stanley hoofed a magnificent sideline conversion for the final 48-26 score.
For East, Michael Dan appeared for the Force. Vaalepu and lock Brent Murphy excelled. Matt Windle of the Force played for South, with Stannard, Harris and Siganiyaui were outstanding
