Fremantle Roosters 24 – Kalamunda Bulldogs 20
By PETER ROWE
A Ryan Woolley double coupled with some solid defensive work saw the Roosters beat the Bulldogs for the first time this season in Saturday’s Fuel to Play & Go Elimination Final at Treeby Oval.
The centre scored two second-half tries, but it was also his defensive work that didn’t go unnoticed as the Roosters overcame the pre-game loss of prop Gethin Thomas and centre Joe Pouhila to progress to a blockbuster Preliminary Final clash against Willagee next weekend.
“We had to make a few late changes,” player-coach Duane Butler, who made a surprise appearance off the bench following injury, said.
Fremantle had most of the early ball but couldn’t turn it into points after a penalty attempt after just six minutes saw fullback Harry Debique’s kick hold up in the wind before bouncing back into play from the upright.
Kalamunda dug deep and slowly played their way back into the game until the 24th minute when backrower TJ Morunga found a gap on the right edge to cross. The conversion attempt again hit the upright and failed to add points but the Roosters, with a lot of ball possession were soon extending their lead.
Errors from the visitors with the ball handed back possession and centre Roydon Gillett capitalised, but again the conversion didn’t find the mark.
The individual try of the day though came five minutes later when mercurial halfback Samisoni Langi fended off several tackles to eventually find a gap in the Fremantle defence to dance his way through to score.
With the kick converted the teams went to sheds at the break with a two-point margin separating them.
Woolley’s opening effort, five minutes into the second half, came off the back of a Fremantle drive upfield that eventually saw space down Kalamunda’s left flank for the centre to pounce. Debique kicked the extras and the Roosters looked to take control of the game.
But it was not to be, as a long pass from Langi set up Joel Alatimu to close the margin once again.
And when winger Tommy Etchells, cleverly kept himself in play to plant the ball on the try line the game was all square at 14-apiece, with 20 minutes still to play.
Woolley’s second try on 68 minutes showed his strength as he held off a double tackle to reach out and place the ball down.
“He’s a freak of nature,” Butler added. “He’s had a few injuries to contend with and has been underrated in the competition.”
A Debique penalty double stretched the lead to ten points, but this never-say-die Bulldogs team don’t know how to give up.
They looked tired for the final 15 minutes, but somehow conjured another score when Robbie Jones found the whitewash and the conversion reduced the lead to four points.
But time eventually beat them as they tried in vain right at the death to level it up.
“It might not have been a pretty way to win but when it comes to finals, a win is a win,” Butler said.
“Kalamunda have shown how dangerous teams in fourth can be. They are often overlooked by what’s happening in first and second on the ladder, so we knew it would be a battle.
“They took us to the wire. Thankfully our strength and momentum got us home.”
The other Duane, Kalamunda coach Gwiazdzinski, was proud of how far his team had come this season, despite the loss.
“We made too many errors in the first half,” he said. “But we showed good resilience and our defensive effort in that first 40 was very good.
“Soni made holes in their D all day and there was a great effort from Priwesh (Prasad) and Josh (Ngapuri).
We lost Klay (Wikaira) with an HIA and Benny (Solomana) with a broken hand in the second half so we only had 15 left and that hurt us.
“But I’m very proud of where we are. For a team that was fifth in Val Murphy last year, it’s been a good journey and I think next season can be even better.”
For Duane Butler, the season continues, with a mouthwatering Preliminary Final against the Bears at South Perth next Saturday.
“Another derby game against them,” Butler said. “We’ll be ready.”