UWA Rugby Club has pipped Wanneroo at the post by three points to win the Belt Up Match of the Round.
Coming into this year's first Belt Up round, three Premiership Division Clubs have locked horns for the crucial number four position on the ladder and a place in the Premiership Division Semi-Finals.
Sitting in sixth spot behind UWA and Associates, Wanneroo knew a win in this game would be crucial in improving their chances of making it to the higher division finals.
The match got off to a flying start with Wanneroo claiming possession back after only a couple of phases after the UWA kick-off.
Captain Andrew King and fullback Stephon Nolson were the key in putting the ‘Roo Dogs’ up early scoring a crafty counterattack try to put five points on the board.
With the conversion no good Wanneroo would go up by a unconverted try in the first three minutes of the historic Belt Up match of the round.
During all three grade games the mighty McGillivray Oval was branded with the bright red ‘Belt Up’ message, creating awareness of the importance of wearing a seat-belt as well as outlining the partnership between RugbyWA and the Insurance Commission of Western Australia (ICWA) highlighting the mission to reduce fatalities on WA roads.
UWA through the brilliance of Connor O’Sullivan responded quickly to the Wanneroo try, using their advantageous field position generated from a brilliant mid field break.
After a number of quick forward hit-ups from the home-side, Western Force flanker and home-grown UWA product Carlo Tizzano was able to break the defense to score his teams first try of the game.
Only a few minutes down and Tizzano was able to strike again turning the ball over for his team leading to winger Leon Feke to score on outside put the Students in front.
Approaching halftime and down by seven points Wanneroo looked to change momentum and get back on the winning side of the ball.
Western Force fly-half Andrew Deegan played a big role throughout the game directing play and flow of the match, eventually he was able to set up fellow fullback Stephan Nolson who yet again sliced through the UWA defense giving his team the opportunity to tie up the game.
Good kicking from Kris Palmer leveled the score at 12 a piece coming into halftime, with literally nothing separating the two teams, the second half of this Belt Up match was set to be a spectacle.
With big names such as captain Harry ‘Rusty’ Scoble and Western Force scrum-half Rory O’Sullivan sidelined for the weekend it would seem that the Students were undermanned however that didn’t stop them from stepping up and dominating possession throughout the entirety of the second half.
After what only could be called an arm wrestle, Wanneroo held their defense well however they were not effective whenever they got possession turning over the ball on a regular basis.
It took the boot from Dylan Fletcher to lend UWA the lead putting them in front by three points with 25 minutes left on the clock.
The defense was able to hold firm for the Students holding off an increasingly dangerous Wanneroo side until the final whistle claiming the win with a final score of 15 – 12.
Head Coach Kathal Spence praised his side for standing strong outlining the toughness it took to get over a side like Wanneroo.
“Big credit to Wanneroo, they belted us at the line and we will defiantly have some sore bodies tomorrow.”
“They put on fifteen minutes of the best defense you’ll see in this competition, we played a lot of good ball but they still managed to keep us out which was very impressive.”
“Our guys coming off the bench were crucial is the second half, young Keano Van Dieman was exceptional in both defense and attack, I thought he had a really strong game.”
“Leon Feke and Romi Masi out in the backs played really well, having (Andrew) Deegan out there against you is difficult but those players really stood up today as did the whole backline.”
Romulusi Masi went on to win the ‘Belt Up Man of the Match’ honors and was presented the award by Deputy Chief Executive of the Insurance Commission Rick Howe during the post-match presentations.
The first ‘Belt Up Match of the Round’ for the 2019 season was received well by the RugbyWA Community and was successful in creating awareness about the importance of wearing a seat belt on WA roads.
The next ‘Belt Up Match of the Round’ will take place in the final round of the Fortescue Premier Grade on Saturday 3rd of August and will showcase the Southern Lions vs the Coastal Cavaliers down at Success Sportsplex in the Fortescue Championship Division.
