Welcome to the Goose Step!
Preliminary Final time! And its a shot at the Grand Final on the line, and we have a full day with 6 games going ahead. Last weekend was a ripping day at Rockingham, with an amazing day of rugby league, but we zip up to Heath Park in Eglinton to check out the new digs of the Alkimos Tigers.
With the action kicking off this Sunday, 10:00am at Heath Park, Eglinton, lets have a look at the fixtures.
GLT – 10:00am
Grand Finalists – Alkimos Tigers Orange
Preliminary Final – Roosters vs Lions
Our Girls League Tag competition is really tight, and the final 3 are all amazing sides. Alkimos Tigers booked their ticket to the Grand Final behind a huge second half performance to finish all over the top of Fremantle, while the Lions were too classy early for the Rabbitohs, and held on at the finish. Fremantle scored first through Promise Iongi in their clash, but Hope Latu scored a quickfire double for the Tigers to gain all the momentum. But the Roosters will still fancy their chances. They will need more from senior experienced players in Maddison Mann and Lily Robinson if they are going to get to the grand final. For the Lions, Abigail Tutt and Harper McKay were instrumental, with their runs difficult to contain all game. But it was their team effort which really shone through. Both teams will be looking for a bigger defensive effort this week though as they both leaked points at crucial stages.
U13 Boys – 11:00am
Grand Finalists – Willagee Bears
Preliminary Final – Sharks vs Rabbitohs
Another great game to watch, with the Sharks and Rabbitohs going head to head in a spirited clash. The Bears were too strong late last week, but the Sharks will consider that a lesson learnt after they started strong when Bentley Terekia got on the scoreboard. The Rabbitohs were in a to and fro game against the Titans, and with Taawhaki Falwasser and Abel Ryan in fine form, they did just enough to see off a plucky Titans side. In this game, both teams will look to their strengths. The Sharks are a bit team, with strong ball runners and will look to control the ball, where the Rabbitohs will hope their aces out wide will cause all sorts of problems for the wider defenders. Although the ominous Bears await the winners, we should see an absolute ripper of a game here.
U14 Girls – 12:10am
Grand Finalists – Willagee Bears
Preliminary Final – Roosters vs Titans
Firstly lets start with the Titans, who came from the clouds to just get into 4th place, and are carrying all kinds of momentum at the moment. And a huge part of that is the form of powerhouse forward Avalu-Jasmin Tiomai. Her tag team power play with Julz Hiko-Tutauha was something to behold as they ran roughshod against the brave Ellenbrook side. But they face a different prospect this week in the fast and firing Roosters. The Roosters weren’t up to scratch defensively last week against a Harper Ngarotata-Day led Bears, but they still showed they can put points on the board. With guns Jetta, Haimona and Tuitama all crossing the stripe, they showed they can still put it on the board when they need it. This game should be one of the matches of the day.
U14s Boys – 1:20pm
Grand Finalists – Kwinana Titans
Preliminary Final – Bulldogs vs Rabbitohs
The Kwinana Titans were the most comprehensive winners from the first finals weekend and deserve their spot in the GF. Sulo Mana Akauola scored a stunning hat-trick and they wait eagerly to see who they will face. The Bulldogs will be looking for an improved performance after they were out paced on the field, and they will hope the Fatanitavake and Heihei-Wikaira boys can show the way. But they will have a tricky team in front of them with Ellenbrook Rabbitohs full of confidence after seeing off the Tigers in a close contest. For the Bunnies, it was their forwards that kept them in it, with the up front triple threat of Kasper Ellerton, Tobi Gray and Liam Moyniham leading the way. Both teams will be looking to up the ante in this one and come into the GF full of confidence.
U15s Boys – 2:30pm
Grand Finalists – Alkimos Tigers
Preliminary Final – Bears vs Bulldogs
In an actual cracking game, the Tigers hung on for a 4 point victory against the Willagee Bears to get into the grand final. Led by Leilyn Herewini-Kapea, who scored a double, the Tigers threw everything and more at the Bears to get through to the GF. The Bears will not hang their heads in shame though, as they fought every step of the way. When Quintin Love scored the second of his two tries, they almost had done enough. An industrious performance from Lyric Vasukicakau set the tone for the Bears as their never say die attitude was on full display, and they are stil the favourites to get back to the big dance. The Bulldogs were too much for the Sharks, as they rushed out to a lead they never surrendered, despite a massive performance from Kolbi Garnaut. Cooper Kihi stood tall for the Dogs, with a best on field performance, and with Carlijah Hiko-Kita still to come back into the Dogs, they will only get better and fancy their chances against the strong Bears.
U17s Boys – 3:40pm
Grand Finalists – Rockingham Sharks
Preliminary Final – Rabbitohs vs Tigers
A golden point thriller to end the day treated the whole crowd at Rockingham, as the hometown Sharks outlasted the stubborn Ellenbrook Rabbitohs in a brilliant contest. Taniela Te Rauna and Taimana Hurihanganui both scored important doubles, and were brilliant for the Sharks, while for the Rabbitohs Formby Turner was strong, but the performance of Braithen Thompson was as good as a half performance we have seen on semi final day. The question remains though. Can the Rabbitohs bounce back after such an emotional loss? They will run into the hometown Alkimos Tigers this time, who have all the momentum in the world. They dismantled the Roosters in a massive performance, and while the Roosters were missing some troops, the Tigers were very impressive. James Aleni and Luke Scheepers were super impressive in the performance and they will fancy themselves a chance to make the grand final. This should be another ripping game to finish our day!
Anyway, thats the Goose Step this weekend! Get down to the games and support all the teams playing!
