Author: Graham Parkinson

The expected rain was delivered earlier in the morning, leaving the match window with blue skies ready for a game of rugby and with top of the table and the Horan-Little shield on the offer there was plenty to play for, and what a game it turned out to be. The undercard was full with rugby clinics for the little ones, curtain raisers of junior teams and Golden Oldies teams, the food trucks in full preparation and beanbags on Phil, the Hill as part of the seating arrangement (think outdoor cinema style). With 15mins before the kick off the crowd…

What an afternoon, the day was perfect, and I mean perfect! The playing field surface was a carpet of lawn – just superb – had the local bowls club surface green with envy. (Yes, I did) The bouncy castles were set up, the food stalls were at the ready, the junior rugby clinics keeping the little ones engaged with the wider playing squad members and rugby development officers, while the parents organized themselves and got seats. RugbyWA put on an event to be proud of today. The warm ups had a building intensity with many a discussion in the crowd…

This seasons NRC is suddenly upon us and not without a twinge of sadness in acknowledging the Spirit name vacating, as I’d followed the Spirit in the NRC as closely as the Force in the Super Rugby Competition and now that marks an end of an era – for now (hopefully). The Force name now continues through from Super rugby and World Series Rugby into the NRC in a logical move that strengthens brand recognition and following, particularly amongst the junior quarters here in Perth, which is a completely understandable and logical decision. The general chat this time last year…

This piece has had several starts over the last couple of months – usually ending in me shouting at the computer, threatening death to social media trolls. Long, angry, rambling rants that go off multiple tangents or just staring blankly into space despondently. So here we go… The Western Force was my team, come hell or high water the Force were my team, All Day! Every Day! As a family we had been there from the start, the first rallies, the first game, the first open days, the first win, taking my young boys to their first rugby games, meeting…

THE BUILD-UP: A small crowd was expected today given the news of the week and it being the NRL grand final, but the Spirit faithful were out in good form today with the famous hill being largely fill with approx. 2000 excellent people there in support, All hoping for a belter of a game after the Drua put the Spirit to the sword the week before. The afternoon was again perfect with it being lovely in the sun and a touch cool in the shade – the ice-cream truck did great trade – everyone ready for the game to get…

THE BUILD-UP: The opening round of the 2017 NRC with the Rising travelling to Perth to meet the Spirit in a replay of the opening round fixture of last years competition. The conditions were spot on for a great game and one ensued. The crowd was invited to take the field and hour before the kick in an extended game of Viva7s with a mix of boys and girls playing against mums and dads, good idea in getting family involvement on the day, the invited food trucks lined up at the top of the Hill, and the crowd started to…

Fans of Rugby, we’ve watched saddened at how the last few months have played out for our game, and as I sit here writing up the season preview for Property Powerhouse Perth Spirit, I realised that the peoples team has been created. Like the “A-Team” walking out to a firing squad, we have a plan! The team that the “organisation” doesn’t want around anymore, the Spirit – have been backed into a corner, – gifted a “WHY!”, a refusal to quit, – a single point focus to beat the crap out of everything in their path. Here we go! The…

THE BUILD-UP: Not much build up to the game day experience as it was being viewed from the Perth on Foxtel, but the weeks lead up had every, mathematician loving life and spreadsheet equations, and rugby fans loving life and…rugby. The simples among us, (okay me) have summarized it to: 1)         Vikings needing a win to stay alive. 2)         Spirit wanting a win to secure finals berth. GAME SUMMARY: A good game of see-saw rugby with both teams holding the lead, extending the lead and chasing the oppositions leads. Good set pieces from both sides until the Spirit scum began…

THE BUILD-UP: Terrible weather threatened to hamper any crowd and any decent rugby being played, but after a solid lashing of rain, hail and wind the day before, this afternoons match was played in very pleasant conditions. The Perth teenagers had the annual North v South (of the River) regional trials with a crowd of about 300- 400 people attending. The junior development of Rugby Union in the West is paying off in spades. The Property Powerhouse Perth Spirit Junior Captain Daniel O’Reilly (from the Ellenbrook Vipers Rugby Club) charged down the “Hill” leading Heath Tessman and the Perth Spirit…

After a Wallaby win the night before and waking up to a perfect morning, the NRC in town with the Perth Spirit taking on Queensland Country – Sunday afternoon was taken care off.  The local under 17s comp final was the curtain raiser with West Scarborough beating Palmyra 26-17 – presentation was taking place while the warm-ups were starting.  By the looks of things the Spirit team were linking together and looking smooth. QLD Country was going through a number of handling drills across a wider set-up (but more of that to come). Sitting on the hill with friends fairly close…

Perth Spirit took on the Melbourne Rising in the opening game of the 2016 Buildcorp NRC team this morning. Here’s our report. THE BUILD-UP: The set up at the UWA fields this morning was fantastic. The main field had been cordoned off as local junior finals were happening around it. The two teams had there warm-ups on the main field and excitement was building. Moments before the teams made their way down the hill to get the 2016 NRC competition under way, a huge cloud opened and a quick down pour occurred as if to give it all one final wash…

It’s back!! Let us repeat that…IT’S BACK! NRC 2016 and the mighty Property Powerhouse Perth Spirit! The local Perth rugby competition wrapped up over the weekend, allowing rugby fans to shift their complete focus onto the Perth Spirit, and the opening game of the competition to be played at home (UWA Sports Park). With the scoring system being adjusted  to run in a 6-2-2-2 format (6 point tries and all kicks worth 2) expect to see plenty of attacking rugby being played throughout the competition. We should also see a reduction in the fear of infringing in the defensive 22 – allowing for…