The Fremantle Roosters claimed the Fuel To Go & Play Third Grade title at Dorrien Gardens on Saturday after a tough match against a punishing Willagee Bears. Led by man of the match, halfback Lewis Goodsell, the Roosters produced a magic second half to finish over the top of the physical Bears.
In a match consisting of two new finalists for 2024, the Bears came out with fire and brimstone in the first half, with multiple attacking forays through Allen Taua & Shaddai Gare. But only a penalty goal to Shaddai seperated the two teams at the break.
Photo – Tom Campbell/Total Sports Photography
With gun player Jordan Jacob having to pull out pre-match with an injury, the pressure was on the Bears to find points elsewhere and it really looked like they were making in roads.
With strong carries from Adam Nepia and Tonga Mahuta breaking the Fremantle line straight down the middle of the field, Ethan Suamili broke the line and had a 2 on 1 with the Rima Los’e the sole Fremantle defender. Unfortunately the play broke down and the ball went to ground to the anguish of the Bears fans.
Photo – Tom Campbell/Total Sports Photography
Right off the back of that Liam Sundborn went straight through for the Roosters, in a sign that they too could play back at the Bears, with Mel Thompson creating all sorts of issues for the Bears defence. Fellow edge player Keidyn Seniloli was a handful all day for the Bears D.
But it was a wasted chance for the Roosters, with the ball not finding the hands of Whiripo at the end of the set, and letting the Bears off the hook.
Photo – Tom Campbell/Total Sports Photography
With the game still in the balance, the Bears looked to their bench with Pairama Wahanui and Vix Ulukita making their presence known in the middle of the field, with strong runs and offloads again continuing to cause issues for the Roosters side.
But the scored remained until half time, with Goodsell trying to have the last say of the half by slicing through. Again his pass went to ground, and with the siren in the background, we had a 2 point margin, with a tryless first half.
Photo – Tom Campbell/Total Sports Photography
With the second half commencing, it looked like it might be more of the same, with Taua breaking tackles and coming up with a beautiful offload, to send Flynn Lusty into open space in the first set of the game. He took on fullback Los’e but the Fremantle custodian was up to the task.
After the break down of the attacking set, the Bears had another linebreak soon after, and it was that man again Taua who was the architect. He broke through 3 tackles and linked up with speed man Shaddai Gare, who was desperately tracked down from behind. A few near misses showed the Bears were hungry.
Photo – Tom Campbell/Total Sports Photography
With the momentum seeming to stay with the Bears, the reintroduction of Joel Leota onto the field for the Roosters seemed to bring them back to life. Linking up with forwards Longolongo Pifeleti Vailahi and Komasi Filo gave the spine some much needed room.
And when the Bears dropped the ball in their own red zone, the drought was finally broken. A brilliant selective pass from Tamati Foster, found Trae Tipoki-Ariki on a hard unders line, and he was too hard to stop. With Los’e adding the extras, the Roosters were up 6-2 and suddenly the game was alive.
Photo – Tom Campbell/Total Sports Photography
Off the kick off the Roosters were energised. Making some nice incisions, they carried their set deep into the Bears half, and when the Bears made another error, Goodsell was there to capitalise.
Off the scrum, Goodsell holding the ball in two hands, bamboozled the Bears defensive line and floated a beautiful pass to Riki Day, who beat a couple of defenders to touch down and extend the Roosters lead to 12 points to 2.
Photo – Tom Campbell/Total Sports Photography
During the restart, in a set where the rain started to fall again on the day, the Bears lost a man to the sin bin and unfortunately the writing was on the wall.
After a strong run from Tipoki-Ariki and quick play the ball, Goodsell whipped around to the blind side, and straightened up against a retreating defensive to again find the line for the roosters and make it even tougher for the Bears. With the score now at 18-2 it was always going to be a long way back for the Bears.
Photo – Tom Campbell/Total Sports Photography
With another try to Liam Sundborn after some continuous pressure from the Roosters, the Bears never gave up. And after Suamili and Gare found winger Leighton Young, he showed great pace and awareness to finish it off in the corner.
Young was brilliant all game for the Bears, with his work ethic, sniping runs out of trouble and willingness to get back on defence a real pleasing part of the game for the Red and Black faithful.
Alas it was too little too late for the Bears, with the bell sounding in the distance.
A worthy grand final for both clubs, with a few missed chances. The Fremantle Roosters are the Third Grade Premiers for 2024.
Player Of The Game – Lewis Goodsell (#7 – Fremantle Roosters)
Fremantle Roosters – 24
Tries – Trae Tipoki-Ariki, Riki Day, Lewis Goodsell, Liam Sundborn
Conversions – Rima Los’e 4/4
Willagee Bears – 6
Tries – Leighton Young
Conversions – S. Gare 0/1
Penalty Goal – S. Gare