Fortescue Premier Grade Team of the Week: Round 7

Wed, Aug 19, 2020, 8:56 AM
Rugby WA Media
by Rugby WA Media

Some new faces in this round's team of the week, who do you think shone in round 7 of the Fortescue Premier Grade?

 

1. Dante Tatafu – Perth Bayswater

This RugbyWA Senior Academy player has been an absolute rock for Perth Bayswater this year injecting another level of physicality into his team.

This abrasive prop played a huge part in the ‘Numbats’ upset over Nedlands over the weekend, dominating at scrum time to earn penalty after penalty.


2. Benjamin Rumble - Kalamunda


Scoring the first try of the hit-out Ben Rumble opened the door for Kalamunda and started their onslaught of Curtin University.

He provided clean ball for his halfback and threw extremely well at line-out time.

 

3. Reginald Churchward – Cottesloe 

Needless to say, Reggie Churchward has had one of the best first halves to the season seen by any WA rugby player, his physicality and motor around the field isn’t match by any other prop in the competition.

His power and ferocity cleaning out the ruck against Coastal Cavaliers is enough to strike fear into any opposition. 

4. Michael Tafili – Associates

One of the only second-rowers to score last weekend, Michael Tafili was extremely valuable for ‘Soaks’ getting his side go-forward.

His ability to tear the defence open off short balls from halfback Lachie Phillips was hugely effective in his sides win over Joondalup.

5. Liam Van Der Heyden – Coastal Cavaliers

Liam Van Der Heyden put in a complete performance for a second rower dominating at the line-out and keeping a high work rate all around the field. Making a few good tackles as well Van Der Heyden just continues to make his teammates life easy out on the field.

6. Tashir Newsome-Smith – Southern Lions

Despite going down to Wanneroo on the weekend, even the opposition players were raving about how well Newsome-Smith played. His work rate on defence and around the ruck was unmatched and his defence did a very good job at keeping Southern Lions in the contest.

7. Ryan Black

Watching Ryan Black’s game, it was clear to see that ARKs were hiding some pretty impressive talent within their ranks.

Black played the role of a back-rower perfectly on the weekend, he was a pest around the breakdown and did all the hard jobs around the field.

8. Alexander Masibaka – Associates

RugbyWA Senior Academy product Alex Masibaka has taken a while to make his start for ‘Soaks’ playing in a side with such a prolific backrow.

However he didn’t disappoint last Saturday tearing through Joondalup defence and a similar performance we are used to seeing when he is out playing for the Australian U18s side.



9. Michael Botes – Nedlands

In the first half of their match against Perth Bayswater Micheal Botes was one of the standouts. Despite being a scrumhalf his physical presence around the field was handy for Nedlands on attack plus he was a deadeye with the boot nailing two conversions and a penalty kick.

Moving him to fly-half was certainly a smart move by head coach Sam Rarasea, making him more effective while letting back half Nate Roberts do his thing.

10. Luke Raduva – Associates

Another new face to Associates this year Luke Raduva has taken the fly-half reins and is excelling in it.

Raduva put his teammates into space time after time on the weekend and also showed slick hands assisting in his side’s second try with a slick behind the back pass to keep the ball in play.

11. Usaia Ralulu – Kalamunda

Last year’s highest try scorer has been rather quiet to start the 2020 Premier Grade season however after scoring two nice tries on the weekend we can safety say his on his way back up to the top.

His ability to run hard lines and slip through the defence at speed makes him just impossible to stop when Kalamunda gets on a run. 

12. Louie David – Wests Scarborough

Nobody in an ARKs jersey wanted to touch Louie David on the weekend. Scoring two tries early, the affectionately known ‘Human Wrecking Ball’ was unstoppable yet again.

13. Che Stacey – Cottesloe

While the Cottesloe number thirteen jersey is usually filled by arguably with competitions best Alastair Haining, back up outside centre Che Stacey had some big shoes to fill.

Stacey played a refreshing style of rugby on the weekend opting to put his teammates into space, showcasing some fancy offloads in the process.


14. Nicolas Eve – Curtin University

He had a sneaky intercept try late in the game and he was electric on attack when Curtin had the ball. Quiet and well-rounded game from the young winger.

15. Grason Makara – Wanneroo Rugby Club

The fullback position was one of the highlighted positions this week with many players in the fifteen jersey shining all around the grounds.

However Western Force signee Grason Makara was a cut above the rest controlling the game against the Southern Lions.

Scoring a three tries Makara ran good lines, supported well and was just all round hard to stop, he put in a performance any coach would be ecstatic with.

Makara wasn’t the only to score at hattrick this week with Cottesloe’s Jack McDermott scoring three of his own and earning himself a special mention in this week’s TOTW.

Share