Blues News - March 10th Edition

Upcoming Events at The Nest

Busy Bee! THIS SUNDAY 13TH
The clubhouse is in need of a tidy-up before the season commences. We are looking for members (players, especially you!) to come and help this Sunday (9 am-12 pm) to get the nest in tip-top shape for the season ahead. If you're available, please shoot an email to cottsecretary@gmail.com or send a message to Sofia Bekir Fuente to let us know you're coming down!

2022 Merchandise
Thanks to the wonderful Pippa, we have some awesome merchandise for this 2022 season! The following items will be available for sale at the upcoming men's trial game at The Nest on the 26th of March.

Training Top - Womens/Mens/Juniors : $40.00
Gym Shorts - Mens : $45.00
T Shirt - Adult/Kids : $45.00
Polo - Mens/Womens/Kids : $40.00
Hoody - Adults : $85.00
Hoody - Kids : $65.00
Cap - Standard : $30.00
Weather Bucket Hat : $30.00

For any inquiries, contact Pippa Johnson (cottrugbymerchandise@gmail.com)

** Polos will be provided to all players registered under an annual registration, otherwise will need to be bought individually. Training tops will be provided for warm-ups for games but are not to be kept by players. They can be individually purchased.

New Post-Game ShirtsThis year, we will have a new uniform system for players, with regular polos to be worn pre-matches, with more formal cott rugby shirts for post match presentations. These were available for sizing at the Sundowner. Players, if you were not able to try one on to check your sizing, please contact your team managers to do so.

Clubhouse Renovation Updates
As many of you already know, the clubhouse is undergoing some big changes this year. Here's a little progress report on how each aspect is going:

Club House
The brand new Jarrah floor is in! Sanding and sealing has just begun this week. The painting of internal ceilings will follow soon after.

Patio
We are still awaiting the council building permit – expected to be soon.

Changeroom
New storage shelves have been installed, new benches will be put in as of next week.

Player Cards!
This year, we are looking to make Player Cards for printing and collection. All members are invited to be a part of this! We want to include players from every team as well as coaches, staff and supporters. If you would like to be a part of this fun project, all you have to do is answer the simple questions in this form.
Please share this around to team members, the more the merrier!

Fees and RegosA reminder of our NEW Social Membership which is open for anyone who wants to be around to support Cottesloe this year. It is a $100 membership with an exclusive “Member 2022” season hat included. To access this membership, you need to set up an account with Rugby Xplorer which can easily be done via this link: https://myaccount.rugbyxplorer.com.au/ When you go into Xplorer, select Register, then Find a Club. Search for Cott, pick Cottesloe Rugby Club and from there you can select a social membership. If you have any issues, feel free to contact Sofia (cottsecretary@gmail.com) and she can help you get signed up. Season registration is also open for Senior Men’s players, so get onto it before your managers start chasing you down! Ladies, your season rego has not been opened by RugbyWA yet. You still need to register as a training-only participant to be covered by insurance whilst training. It’s $25 and comes off your full season when paid in full (excludes weekly and monthly regos)

COVID Updates (A reminder)Following state guidelines, we will be requiring proof of vaccination within the clubhouse. For entry into the clubhouse, proof of vaccination will need to be shown at the bar to obtain a wristband that will allow you in the premises. This is not required for training on the field. Thursday night dinners will also have to follow the wristband procedure. Changerooms are permitted to be used by anyone for the purpose of changing/bathrooms. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in these new regulations.

Season is nearing...
Amazing efforts from all of our returning and new players grinding through the pre-season. We are always open to new members to join in on trainings! Training times and contacts are as follows:

Mens: training Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Contact Ryan Westaway: 0424 411 474

Womens: training Monday, Thursday.
Contact Kerrie-Ann Barnes: 0400 013 275

Movie Screening

“Mark Our Place,” which is the story of three rugby players from the one club in Ireland, who all went on to play for Ireland, and then all went on to be awarded the highest military honour for valour, the Victoria Cross is going to be screened at the Backlot Cinema in Leederville on March 20th.

It is a 55-minute documentary by Ashley Morrison. The cinema only holds 50 people, and the seats are extremely comfortable. There is also a bar. Tickets available below!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mark-our-place-a-documentary-by-ashley-morrison-tickets-261515097697?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Thanks to our Sponsors:

Cottesloe Overrun Wanneroo In Dreadful Conditions

In severe weather and with the Nest rapidly degenerating into a quagmire, Cottesloe came out on top of Wanneroo on a score of 25 points to 18. Like a smaller boxer with little power, Wanneroo danced and moved and succeeded in staying away from their larger more dangerous opponent, but in 80 minutes of rugby (equivalent to 12 rounds), the bigger and better fighter eventually caught up to them.

From the very first moments, Cottesloe’s superiority in physical power was apparent. Cohen Masson and Tobias Hoskins punched their way over the advantage line at will, while Kaisa Reidy and Adam Fullgrabe decimated their opposition at scrum time. Only two factors were keeping Cottesloe away from the Wanneroo line; their lineout was under pressure and the abysmal conditions turned the ball into a wet bar of soap. Incredibly it was Wanneroo who scored first against the run of play when some clever passing opened up the Cott midfield and they went through to score for 7-0. The two blue reacted like they had been slapped in the face and charged up field, earning a kickable penalty. Ben Meredith scored for 7-3. Unbelievably Wanneroo scored again through an expansive piece of opportunism from their backs. The conversion was missed and the score was 12-3. Both players and supporters on the fence were mystified by this turn of events as in most facets of the game Cottesloe were thoroughly dominant. Toward the end of the half, sanity prevailed and Cottesloe finally earned reward for their scrum dominance. Kaisa Reidy and Adam Fullgrabe made mincemeat of the Wanneroo front row for the umpteenth time and Tobias Hoskins went over. The conversion was missed and at half time the score was 12-8 to the away side.

Amazingly on the resumption of the second half, Wanneroo extended their lead through a well struck long distance penalty goal. Despite this setback, it was obvious that Cottesloe had the bit between their collective teeth and began to really up the ante in the physicality stakes. In attack, Hugh Huppatz, Cohen Masson and Kaisa Reidy carried hard into the green and white line. In defence, there was spite and mustard in every shot put on by Tyler Moeau and Zane Herrick. On 55 minutes, Wanneroo were creaking badly and it was not a surprise when hooker Nathan Kendrick forced his way over under the posts for Cottesloe’s second try. Ben Meredith converted and for the first time in the match Cottesloe were level at 15-15. Without a lead to protect or counter punch from, Wanneroo were forced to come out of their shell and become more direct in their attack; but unfortunately for the away side, that is just meat and drink to the Cottesloe forwards; bigger and more formidable sides than Wanneroo have tried this method and failed. On sixty minutes, another dominant Cottesloe scrum afforded halfback Scott Nicholl a chance and he smashed his way over their diminutive right winger for a try. Cottesloe had the lead then at 20-5. On 63 minutes, Cottesloe scored an absolutely outrageous try in the right corner that effectively ended the match as a contest. Ben Meredith’s kick for touch was batted back into play by the Wanneroo left winger, but unfortunately for him, Tommy Fiftita-Tovo had chased up and was hovering. He pounced on the ball for a hilarious score. That try made it 25-15. The torrential rain worsened at this point and the match devolved into a slog for the last fifteen. Wanneroo were able to snatch a bonus point with the last kick of the ball from a kickable penalty, but both sides were just glad to get out of the weather at the final whistle. The final score was 25-18.

Some credit must go to the away side as in most aspects they were completely outgunned, but they just managed to nick a few points here and there to keep Cottesloe at bay. But in our side, even when things aren’t going our way, there is a tremendous amount of experience there and they are never fazed. There was an inevitability all through that Cottesloe’s comeback was imminent and that Wanneroo were hanging on by their fingernails, and so it proved. In the forwards, Nathan Kendrick was exceptional at hooker and Adam Fullgrabe was utterly dominant against several different foes. Numbers four to eight never once failed to make the advantage line with the ball tucked under their arm. In the backs, Greg Jackson marshalled the defence with aplomb while Tommy Fifita-Tovo is bang in form. For this writer though, for the second time in three weeks, the player that caught the eye was Kaisa Reidy once more. What else can be said about this man that we don’t already know? He devastated the Wanneroo scrum, evaporated a dozen ball carriers who came his way and carried with serious authority. Another terrible surprise for teams is his underrated handling, so when he attracts defenders and they charge at him, he releases out the back and deceives everybody. Just an astonishing footballer is Kaisa.

Cott Junior Summer Touch Rugby Comp Starts October 29

It’s on again - our beautiful sunset touch rugby comp for kids from 5 to 16. There are 6 sessions running on Thursday from 5pm to 6pm from October 29 to December 3, 2020.

This event has been growing every year and has been a fantastic way for kids to get introduced to the game of rugby. Each session is followed by a sausage sizzle.

Book your kids in today - and get them to bring their friends.