Fortescue Premier Grade Team of the Week Round: 4

Wed, May 5, 2021, 2:14 AM
Rugby WA Media
by Rugby WA Media

Round 4 saw players take to the field after a week off due to Covid-19 restrictions, which put a halt to Round 3. The weekend saw teams hungry for game play and a number of players show off their skill and cause a ripple throughout the ladder board.

 

Take a look at who stood out during Round 4.


1. Reggie Churchwood (UWA)

UWA’s star recruit took aim on Saturday by dominating the Baysie pack. With 5 scrum penalties (including a penalty try) and multiple strong carries though the middle of the park, the big man laid the foundations for the UWA fast ball movement out wide.

2. Michael Tui (Palmyra)

In a tight and physical encounter, Tui stood tall for the palms. Strong at scrum time and accurately throwing under huge pressure from the Wanneroo jumpers, Tui was influential in ensuring Paly used their own ball well. His highlight was a quick pick and drive with an off load to get Paly first blood in the match.

3. Jayden Lynch (Associates)

Thanks to some solid work by Lynch, the Associates scrum dominated Curtin Uni down at the bone yard. The Soaks young prop showed his high work rate in his team’s first win for the season. The new recruit was happy to take the hard carry and put his shoulders into many hard running attackers to ensure his team controlled the game’s momentum.

4. Sean Flatman (Wests Scarborough)

In a free-flowing game, Flatman provided the hard running straight line that Wests needed to maintain the space out wide. Flatman stood up in his first premier grade game for the season as his team piled on the points against ARKs. His performance on Saturday creates headaches for the Wests selection committee going forward.

5. Hugh Huppatz (Cottesloe)

Huppatz provided the intensity and work rate that was needed in Cottesloe’s hard-fought first win of the season. He stood up under pressure in the lineout and toiled tirelessly around the park all day. His dynamic carry, beating multiple defenders, ended up being the match winning try for the gulls.

6. Sosifa Likio (Coastal)

Likio was back to his former best on the weekend as the Cavs fought hard to get the win over Southern Lions. The former junior rep player was dynamic out in the open and a menace at the breakdown.

7. Connor O’Sullivan (UWA)


Yet again, the reigning PG Hampshire champion ran riot at Pat O’Hara reserve. O’Sullivan prayed on Baysie’s lineout overthrows and punished them for their mistakes. In true O’Sullivan fashion, he split the opposition up on one particular counterattack, running 60 metres to score.

8. Cohen Masson (Cottesloe)

When the chips are down, the champion players step up. Masson did this in spades on the weekend when his side needed him most in Cottesloe’s ‘must-win’ performance. Under an injury cloud, the dynamic backrower played his typical all-round game with an extremely high volume of quality involvements.

9. Hayden Whitmee-Lloyd (Palmyra)

Palmyra’s unsung hero put in a dynamic performance in the tight arm wrestle against Wanneroo. Whitemee-Lloyd ensured Paly’s fast paced game plan was maintained as he cleared the ball with speed and took advantage of any lax defence close to the ruck. Whitmee-Lloyd’s performance demonstrates the depth that Palmyra enjoys in their ranks.

10. Walter Koteka (Wests Scarborough)

Koteka put his clean passing game on display for all to see in Wests’ demolition of ARKs. In a game that could have turned messy, Koteka ensured his team kept the defence under pressure at all times by moving the ball quickly to space.

11. Tevita Sifa (Associates)

Associates welcomed back their star attacker as they enjoyed a comfortable win against Curtin Uni. Sifa was dynamic in the open with multiple line breaks while also showing a slick pair of hands. He had a hand in 3 of the Associates tries and managed to score 1 himself.

12. James Dougal (Coastal)

The age-less Dougal showed that he can still comfortably produce the kind of rugby that shot him onto the Western Force list over a decade ago. The local Rockingham product displayed his agile feet in close quarters and his hard hitting tackling out wide. Now back playing fulltime, Dougal promises to build a library of highlight reels for the Cavs in 2021.

13. Kitione Nairuba (Kalamunda)

Nairuba has been one of Kalaumnda’s most consistent players this year and he didn’t miss a beat on Saturday. The Brothers defence had no answer for the running lines and brilliant side-stepping that he showed. With a wealth of young talent below him, he’s demonstrating the standards needed to dominate premier grade rugby.

14. Usaia Ralulu (Kalamunda)

A return to form for the live wire outside back. Ralulu was dangerous out wide every time he touched the ball for the Bulls. He showed his ability to not only capitalise on his team’s line breaks with blinding pace, but also break cover tackles to maintain the team’s momentum.

15. Jarome Leonard (Wests Scarborough)


Leonard played the wide, second receiver role with precision on Saturday. As ARKs ran out of numbers on the accumulating phases, Leonard was clinical in slipping attackers through holes with his short passing game. There are good signs for the Boars if this man is up and firing.


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