The Perth Sprit unleashed another bonus point thumping at home to defeat Queensland Country by 68–29 in their Round 7 NRC clash at Rockingham.
RugbyWA spread the love again for their final home match of the season, taking it 55km south of Perth this time to the Rockingham Rugby Club’s ground at Lark Hill in Port Kennedy. The crowd wasn’t as big as for the other two games in The West, but they saw a rousing win for the local side.
The Match
Perth got straight into their work with debutant Christian Joubert scoring in the corner and openside Kane Koteka getting over from a 5m lineout drive to put on a 10–0 lead in the first ten minutes.
Not to be outdone, Country’s own openside flanker Jack de Guingand (JdG) managed to strike back a few minutes later with a try on his starting debut, narrowing the gap to 10–8 after flyhalf Matt Brandon added the extras.
In a style we’ve become accustomed to in the NRC, the quick-footed JJ Taulagi on the left wing for Qld Country, swerved and glided around 4 defenders before being brought down. Shortly thereafter JdG – the former Melbourne Harleqiun – was over for his second try, and the score at 10–13 put the visitors in the lead at the mid point of the first half.
It was good to see Country taking it up to the Spirit, but the Perth side were getting on top in the contests for the ball and they retook control of the match courtesy of a try to Robbie Abel in the 25th minute. Perth then stormed ahead with Koteka securing his second try and Luke Morahan bagging some meat from a great Luke Burton pass just before the break. The half-time score was 31–13 in favour of the home side.
Unfortunately for Country the second half was to be like the first. Powerful flanker Brynard Stander scored a try after just 2 minutes, and hooker Abel claimed his second shortly after to bump the score out to 44–13 with less than 10 minutes elapsed since the break.
Fortunes turned in the 52nd minute however when referee Will Houston ran out of patience with repeat infringements and Perth captain Sam Wykes got a yellow card. De Guingand, Country’s man of the moment, promptly bagged his hat-trick which Brandon converted. Big lock Blake Enever, in his first start in the NRC, also got over the line for Country with Brandon converting again to close the gap to 44–29 at the mid point of the second half.
This only served to fire up the Spirit. Openside Koteka, who plays his rugby at Wests Scarborough club, cashed in for his own hat-trick to match JdG. Zack Holmes converted to go past the half century mark for the Spirit in the 65th minute, 52–29.
Perth went on to finish over the top of Country with a try to prop Joe Savage and another to replacement winger Va’a Mailei, who collected a grubber from Kyle Godwin that bounced up nicely for him. Godwin has proved adept at using the grubber two weeks in a row now. Perhaps Nick Phipps and Matt Toomua should take notes! An emphatic 68-29 win was the final result.
Country put up a good fight but couldn’t stay with the Spirit when they put their foot down. The Parker brothers from Townsville, Michael and Andrew, came on in the front row for the final 10 minutes or so which was good to see for Queensland Country rugby.
[one_third last=”no”]
The game changer
Yellow card to Perth captain Sam Wykes that triggered a two try comeback from Qld Country to make a game of it, although it clearly wasn’t enough for them in the end.
[/one_third][one_third last=”no”]
The GAGR MOTM
Brynard Stander – standout performer in a strong backrow for the Spirit alongside Kane Koteka and Alex Rovira.
[/one_third][one_third last=”yes”]
Players to watch
Kane Koteka – Perth-born flanker and nephew of All Black Paul Koteka. Bagged 3 tries.
Jack de Guingand – UQ med student and Tassie-born flanker who scored 3 meat pies.
[/one_third]
The details
[one_half last=”no”]
Perth Spirit: 68
Tries: 10
Kane Koteka (3) 9′, 35′, 64′
Robbie Abel (2) 26′, 48′
Brynard Stander 42′
Christian Joubert 4′
Luke Morahan 40′
Joe Savage 68′
Va’a Mailei 71′
Conv: 5
Zack Holmes (4/9) 26′, 40′ 42′, 64′
Ian Prior (1/1) 72′
[/one_half][one_half last=”yes”]
Queensland Country: 29
Tries: 4
Jack de Guingand (3) 12′, 19′, 52′
Blake Enever 60′
Conv 3:
Matt Brandon (3/4) 12′, 52′ 60′
[/one_half]
[one_half last=”no”]
Cards:
Sam Wykes (YC) 52′
[/one_half][one_half last=”yes”]
Cards:
n/a
[/one_half]
Referee:: Will Houston
Attendance: 1,022
