ROCKINGHAM Rugby Union Football Club got its season off to a flier, defeating Mandurah by 23 points at Okemont Reserve last Saturday.
Rockingham overcame a sluggish start, going down 5-0 before accelerating thanks to skipper Bodie Etheredge, who was on fire running in five tries, while Dudley Cortland slotted five conversions.
Adam Brick and Andrew Smith also crossed to score a try apiece.
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READ NOWIsaak Conley, Zachary Nicolson, Andrew Taitoko and Anton Paul all crossed for the Pirates as they finished the game with 17 unanswered points but it was not enough to help them avoid a 45-22 defeat.
The victory means Rockingham continues its strong A-grade form on from last season after claiming 18 wins from 18 games.
The news was not so good for B grade, who slumped to a 24-3 defeat thanks to tries from Pirates’ Fabian Morrell, Deon Wyatt and Jordan Kasuas.
It was a standstill early, with neither side able to put points on the board until Rockingham converted a penalty.
This seemed to stun the Pirates into action, running in three unanswered tries to post the victory.
The colts also went down to the Pirates, 34-19.
Rockingham host Curtin Uni in A and B grade action at Lark Hill, while the colts welcome a Palmyra side who suffered a narrow first round loss to Joondalup.