AFTER a hard fought battle at McGivillray Oval on Saturday, UWA defeated Joondalup 21-11 in the Belt Up Match of the Round.
UWA lock Tim Carslaw was named Belt Up Man of the Match after a steadfast performance up front.
After the game, UWA coach Steve McFarland said Joondalup was very sound defensively and made UWA work hard for the win.
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READ NOW“I thought we had a lot of opportunities throughout the game,” McFarland said.
“We probably didn’t execute it as well as we would have liked and probably made it quite hard for ourselves.
“Going forward I think we just need consistency. Sometimes we’re a little bit up and down.
“Over the course of the year we’ve had some good results and some good passages of play and then we can go off the boil a little bit, so we’re keen to get a little more consistency.”
Joondalup started hot off the line with flyhalf Sheldon Tarawa storming through UWA’s defence and taking the first try of the match within the first five minutes.
Scrum half Johann Lowu failed to covert, leaving the score 0-5 in the Brother’s favour.
The following 10 minutes was epitomised by the Students’ missed opportunities and a strong Brothers’ defensive line with UWA finding it hard to push through.
Future Force Foundation player Clay Uyen charged the ball deep in Joondalup’s half only to be dragged down short of the line.
UWA kept the pressure on to earn a penalty and youngster Jack Hardy put the first points on the board for the hosts, to close the gap to two points.
Nicholas Chadwick did not give the Brothers any chance to retaliate with an impressive solo effort from long range to give the Students their first try of the game.
Hardy converted to put UWA ahead 10-5.
With the game taking on a forward based mentality, the pace slowed towards half time with both sides using their forward pack to wear down the opposition.
Johann Louw steadied the ship for Joondalup after UWA infringed within sight of the posts to bring the score back to 10-8 at halftime.
Joondalup was keen to make up lost ground in the second half and started strongly earning a penalty at the breakdown just 25m from the line.
Lowu struck true to regain the lead for the Brothers 10-11.
UWA’s Nicolas Chadwick responded by barging over in the left corner for his second try of the day after the Uni pack put on a massive scrum.
Hardy failed to convert leaving the score 15-11 at the 50th minute.
UWA kept the pressure on dismantling Joondalup at scrum time and winning the battle up front.
Yet another penalty against the visitors handed Hardy another shot at the posts and true to form he knocked it over to push the margin out to seven points, 18-11.
Leading by a converted try UWA controlled possession in the closing stages, playing all of the rugby within Joondalup’s half.
A penalty inside the 22 was the final nail in the coffin for Joondalup with Hardy pushing the margin out to 10 points before UWA controlled the final five minutes to run out deserving 21-11 victors.
In other games, Associates defeated Nedlands 38-12, Cottesloe beat Wests Scarborough 29-28, Kalamunda had a 22-19 win over Perth Bayswater and Palmyra defeated Wanneroo 63-0.
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