Round Five
Fremantle Roosters 20 – Willagee Bears 26
By PETER ROWE
Trailing 20-6 after 50 minutes the Willagee Bears showed they have what it takes to be a playoff contender in 2025, as they scored four unanswered tries in 15 minutes to defeat the Fremantle Roosters at Treeby Oval on Saturday evening.
“We struggled in the first half with a low sun in our eyes,” coach Nelson Davis admitted.
Photo – Carmel Potter-Green
“Our talk in the sheds at the break was about regaining momentum and dictating the game. Fremantle had dictated the first half and we needed to address that.
When Ryan Woolley scored ten minutes into the second half the Roosters looked good for the points, but didn’t reckon with the skills of fullback Kainoa Gudgeon and interchange half Kelvin Coleman.
Photo – Carmel Potter-Green
“They tore us apart in the second half,” Roosters coach Duane Butler said.
“We just switched off and we didn’t see the ball for 15 to 20 minutes, by which time they had scored four tries.”
Backrower John Leota was another standout for the red and blacks, who had to withstand a Fremantle onslaught in the final ten minutes, defending four straight sets to hold out.
Gudgeon scored twice, Samoni Qaranivalu, Tommy Eifita-Tovo and Ryan Mills were the scorers on a day the Bears will not forget.
Photo – Liam Sallur
“Our bench stepped up and we played the full 80, We wrestled back control in the second half. We wanted to speed up the game and Fremantle didn’t – but when we did it was good to watch,” a happy Davis said.
For Butler it was a disappointing end to the game, one he thought at halftime they should have won.
“We were perfect for 50 minutes, then we crumbled,” he said.
Austin Cameron and Eli Beattie had opened the scoring before Te Toa Parkinson and Woolley extended the lead.
“We just shut up shop and let them come at us,” Butler added.
“And then at the end we lost our shape and panicked and everyone wanted to be the hero. They ran us off the park.”
Photo – Carmel Potter-Green