UWA Rugby Club have regained the top spot on the Fortescue Premier Grade table after convincing round eight victory over new rivals Curtin Uni.
In a fast-paced free flowing game of footy the UWA men were just too good taking the game by 67 points.
The match was played for the newly revealed Dr Norm Uren Shield to celebrate the clash of the two University clubs now in the Fortescue Premier Grade competition.
The last time an “Intervarsity” match was played in the Premier Grade was in 1977 however through all of WA Senior Grade rugby the Curtin, UWA rivalry has been alive ever since 1970.
The shield itself celebrates Dr Norm Uren who played over 100 games at UWA Rugby Club since 1956.
Eventually in 1969 Uren became one founding fathers of the Curtin Rugby Club and is one of the few life Members for the ‘Goats’.
The long history between the two clubs culminated in last saturday’s big game with both club’s honoring Uren’s contribution both post and prior the game.
As Curtin still finding their feet in their first year of Premier Grade rugby the match was fairly one-sided.
UWA who previously sat a top of the Premier Grade table have defiantly established themselves as a powerhouse in the first half of the season using an exception level of skill to run away from Curtin around the outside.
The game wasn’t without its stars as UWA captain and hooker Harry Scoble had a huge match-up with current Western Force hooker Andrew Ready who was playing his first community match as a Curtin Uni Goat.
UWA halfback Matt Norris played a solid game stepping up to fill in for Rory O’Sullivan who was away with the Western Force, Norris showed a great ability to control the pace of the match.
Despite the margin Curtin continue to show improvement in the Premier Grade establishing a will to compete for the full 80 minutes.
The game another reflection of UWA’s dominance in the Premier Grade to start the season as Nedlands loss to Cottesloe gives them the number one spot on the table once again.
This coming weekend UWA will face Palmyra at home and Curtin Uni will hit the road to face Perth Bayswater as we enter round nine of the competition.
