Belt Up Round kicked off this weekend, with all clubs promoting the message to always wear your seatbelt, no matter the distance.
RugbyWA celebrated its annual Belt Up Round this weekend, marking eleven years of partnership with the Insurance Commission of Western Australia. Integrating the Belt Up message into community sports provides a platform to teach athletes about the importance of wearing a seatbelt every time they get into a car. This can help to form lifelong habits that prioritise safety.
Throughout the eleven years of partnership, the Insurance Commission has provided the grassroots community with more than $3 million in funding, in addition to over 25,000 Belt Up branded rugby balls, and over 3,000 pieces of other equipment including post pads, gear bags and training bibs provided to teams.
2025’s Belt Up Match of the Round saw Palmyra go head-to-head with Wanneroo at Tompkins Park in the Fortescue Premier Grade, live on Stan Sports.
The rainy weather held out for the sides as they took to the field, with the sun shining down on a big match up. A well-placed kick and chase from Viliami Fine saw Palmyra take an early lead, which was quickly followed by a strong performance by Wanneroo, seeing Thomas Crofts cross the line in the eleventh minute.
Wanneroo had a dominant first half, meeting the strength and speed of Palmyra. A second try four minutes after their first put them ahead of the home side, a lead which they maintained into the second half, following a third try.
Palmyra came out of the gate in the second half, scoring a penalty goal two minutes in, followed by a try a few moments later. With an incredible second-half comeback, Palmyra managed to hold Wanneroo at bay, and get past their defenses to win the match 33 to 21.
Tries for Wanneroo were scored by Crofts, Josateki Lalagavesi and Jake Smith, with three conversions from Luke Ale.
For Palmyra, tries were scored by Fine (8’), Rhys Morgan (48’), Matt Mckenzie (59’) and Hayden Cooper (76’), with two conversions (48’, 59’) and three penalty goals (40’, 43’, 63’) from Mckenzie.
In the Belt Up Colts, it was the Battle of Broome Street down at Allen Park, with Associates taking on Cottesloe. A historic matchup between the clubs, it was also a top-of-the-table clash between the two sides as they took to the field.
Big performances from Luke Megson and Jensen Gowdy put Associates in good stead, alongside overall dominance from the side throughout the match. Cottesloe put up a good fight, putting three tries past the top side, but ultimately coming off second best. Associates took the win, finishing with a score of 33 to 17.
Tries for Associates were scored by Megson (2), Harry Knowlson, Callum Godfrey and Gowdy, who additionally completed four conversions. For Cottesloe, tries were scored by Don Benda, Luke O’Callaghan and Gray Moffat-Clarke, with one conversion from Kaden Te Wano.
The Senior Men’s competition returns on July 5, 2025, following a bye round, with NAIDOC Round. Kalamunda will play Cottesloe at Hartfield Park live on Stan Sports.
Crashes can happen in the blink of an eye. By making seatbelt use a habit, we’re taking control of our safety and the safety of those around us. Remember to belt up. Every ride, every time. Let’s make our roads safer for everyone and make sure we all make it home safely.
Fortescue Premier Grade Belt Up Round Results
Nedlands (69) d. Joondalup Brothers (33)
Cottesloe (29) d. Wests Scarborough (20)
Palmyra (33) d. Wanneroo (21)
Southern Lions (18) d. Kalamunda (10)
UWA (26) d. Perth Bayswater (3)
