WAFL: East Perth defeats West Perth for fifth straight time at Leederville Oval

IT was a case of racing the rain in Saturday’s East Perth-West Perth derby at Leederville Oval.

The WAFL side that used the dry weather most effectively and opened up a buffer before the winter washout took hold in the second half would most likely win the match.

And despite the Falcons having a dominant share of the attack, the Royals’ efficiency proved superior with the hosts building that all-important pre-rain margin in the first half of the third quarter.

A wasteful West Perth fought hard but could not close the gap in an 8.7 (55) to 4.18 (42) loss to East Perth.

While six of the Falcons’ behinds were rushed, it was the club’s most inaccurate match of the season.

The victory extended the Royals’ winning streak in derbies at home to five, the side having not lost at the ground since West Perth’s 100-point thrashing of it in round four, 2014.

The Royals kicked five goals in the crucial third term, but the visitors had plenty of opportunity to produce a similar effort in the second quarter when they scored a lopsided 1.7 (three rushed behinds) to East Perth’s 1.2.

The Falcons held a 2.12 (24) to 2.4 (16) advantage at half time before the West Coast Eagles affiliates took the lead inside the first seven minutes of the third stanza with two goals to ruckman Jonathan Giles (three majors).

Goals to East Perth’s Malcolm Karpany and Simon Tunbridge inside the 20-minute mark opened up a 17-point margin as the rain began pelting down, sending spectators scattering for cover.

Such was the deluge, only a single media photographer remained on the boundary, while a cameraman for match broadcaster Channel 7 required a helper to hold an umbrella over him.

The Falcons, who managed just two points in the third term, took back control in the last quarter kicking 2.4 to the home side’s 1.1, inaccuracy again the stinging point for West Perth.

The stats told a story of the visitors’ wastefulness with West Perth sending the ball inside the 50m arc 71 times to the Royals’ 38.

Nine of those Falcons entries belonged to Luke Meadows who impressed with 33 disposals and a match-high 10 marks despite the slippery conditions.

Midfielder Aidan Lynch, a stocky player built for wet weather footy, thrived with more tackles (11) than anyone else on the field and 25 touches.

Former US-based professional baseballer Corey Adamson led East Perth’s possession count with 33.

The loss cost West Perth, which remains in third place, a chance to move into the top two.

The Falcons have a bye this weekend.