Round 5 of the Men’s Fortescue Premier Grade produced a weekend of standout performances and close finishes, adding further intrigue to an already competitive season.
UWA delivered a commanding performance, running in ten tries to overwhelm Joondalup Brothers 66-14. The visitors showcased their attacking depth, with Ruijgrok and McEntee-Walters both scoring two tries each, while Young was clinical with the boot, slotting eight conversions. Joondalup found some late reward through Stephens and Richardson, both converted by Tarawa, but the result was never in doubt. Having faced last year’s finalists the week prior, UWA look to be hitting their stride and are first shaping as competition front-runners.
In one of the highlight rounds, Perth Bayswater edged out Nedlands 34-29 in a high-quality contest. Bayswater’s attack fired through tries from Muavou, Mason, Aiken, and Ovbiagele, with Heuer and Koiatu contributing off the tee. Nedlands kept in touch throughout, with tries from Marshall, Poi, De Lange, and Anderson, but Bayswater’s strong contributions across the squad – including impact from their reserves – secured them the win.
Wanneroo claimed a gritty 18-16 victory over Southern Lions in a match that went down to the wire. Grattan led the way with two tries and Mainwaring added two penalty goals, while a crucial conversion from Ale kept the scoreboard ticking. Southern Lions were impressive in defeat, matching Wanneroo physically and staying in the contest through tries from Rafaele and Dussargues, along with penalty goals from Hardwick and Lamatoa. Ultimately, Wanneroo’s composure in the closing stages proved the difference, snatching a hard-fought win the final moments.
Palmyra proved too strong for Kalamunda, securing a 39-17 victory and halting Kala’s recent momentum following a two-week winning streak. Palmyra’s well-rounded performance included tries from Robertson, Alatini, Jones, and Paese, with McCabe controlling the scoreboard through four conversions and two penalties. Kalamunda showed flashes with tries from Rawiri, Welsh, and Kamizona-Heke, but Palmyra’s structure and consistency across the park saw them pull clear and underline their status as a strong, balanced unit.
Cottesloe produced a polished performance to overcome Wests Scarborough 40-21. Sail led the charge with two tries, supported by Bevin, Greatwood, Kaho, and Bishop in a six-try display. Taylor was flawless with the boot, converting all six tries. Wests Scarborough showed fight, with Baker crossing twice and Fotheringham adding another, but Cottesloe’s control and execution across the full 80 minutes ensured a comfortable victory.
All eyes now turn to Round 6, when UWA will take on Southern Lions for the Stan Sport match of the week. With UWA in red-hot form and Southern Lions proving they can match it with top sides, it shapes as a compelling Round 6 clash.
Men’s Fortescue Premier Grade - Round 5 Results
Joondalup Brothers (14) l. UWA (66)
Perth Bayswater (34) d. Nedlands (29)
Southern Lions (16) l. Wanneroo (18)
Palmyra (39) d. Kalamunda (17)
Cottesloe (40) d. Wests Scarborough (21)
