A cold day at Latham with two games on the top paddock and second grade on the bottom followed by a short drive for first grade at coogee. -
Note to Council-
1.Coogee did not look that bad.
2. Either allow at least two grades or none.
3. Trust Mungos will only be allowed one game on sunday.
Back to the games.
Fourths Wicks got up 20 - 15 after quite a torrid affair where wicks almost got suckered into playing into Wests hands. Great play from Winks and Kingston and Taighe
Thirds played a smart game taking points whenever they could through the boot of Hiddlestone. The continual ticking over of points by wick played on Wests minds and though they were in it all over the ground, especially at the breakdown, they could not get to points. Final score 22-7
Second grade went to the lower paddock and won handsomely 44-6. To be fair ,Wests were right in it with twenty to go. Wicks punished them with speed and running out wide especially in the latter stages. Bannon is always a pleasure to watch in flight and in the forwards Harris had a good game and scored a try.
First Grade started well and had good intent to get up 8 zip. They then seemed to relax and within minutes Wests scored and then scored again. Wests have some very good talent and are electric in the backs especially out wide, this coupled with good work at the breakdown enabled them to outflank Wicks a number of times getting a try on the half time bell.
Munro got a yellow for trying to slow the ball.
Score at the half 19 -8 to Wests
The second half started much like the first with Wicks having the better intent allowing them a try within five minutes 19-15.
Again after ten or so minutes the intensity relaxed and Wests got back on attack.
West sent a runner up out wide in defence pressurising the Wicks backline. The backline started to feel this pressure and finally gave an intercept which after a few hard hitups allowed Wests another try out wide. 26-15
Wests looked the more dangerous with ball in hand and their breakdown work paid dividends with Wests hard on attack and looking like finishing the stronger. Wicks rallied and after some good work by Ford where he shredded the line , Wicks scored under the posts 26-22.
Wests attacked again and with seconds to go Harvey tried for a drop goal ( as he did in previous years).
The score stayed at 26-22 in Wests favour.
Wicks were not crisp in attack and though they had some very good individual moments they need to maintain their intensity.