Premier Grade
Our premier grade side followed on from the Reserves’ and Thirsty Third’s victories earlier in the day by winning a resounding victory versus the newly formed Cavaliers, 51 points to 14. Similarly to the match with Southern Lions in the first round, nobody was quite sure what to expect, but we need not have worried. Cottesloe immediately stamped their authority upfront with some hard carries from Tobias Hoskins and Simi Verata and the Cavaliers were very quickly in full blown retreat. Kieran Stringer almost single handedly destroyed their lineout and when that was combined with a fair wind at Cottesloe backs, it trapped the Cavaliers in their own 22 for much of the first half. Tagen Strydom and Tim Koiatu continually forged a path over the advantage line while Ryan Louwrens showed has class from the base of the scrum. The Cavaliers only succeeded in entering our 22 on one occasion with possession but Kieran Stringer stole their line out ball at his ease.
Coach Fowler emptied the bench early in the second half and blooded a handful of his rookies in the knowledge that the game was probably won. The Cavaliers began to use the wind at their back to gain territory and that tactic forced Scotty Nichol and Harry Hutchins to run the ball back at them. But every time the Cavaliers looked like building phases, Cottesloe would show their class and strike from deep. There was menace across the attack for Cott and the Cavaliers simply could not cope. The Cavaliers put in a brave shift with ex-Cott player Charl Nieuwenhuis standing out in particular but there was an undoubted gulf in both class and depth from the bench.Tobias Hoskins, Simi Verata, Kieran Stringer and Ryan Louwrens were superb for Cottesloe and Tagen Strydom carried hard throughout but man of the match went to hooker Mikey Walker who put in a tremendous shift at hooker, picking up three tries. After two matches, Cottesloe sit on top of the ladder with a maximum of ten points and a colossal score difference but the coaches are fully aware that there are far more formidable tests on the horizon as the season progresses. The top three grades enjoy a bye week this weekend but welcome the stern test of Palmyra to the nest on the 28th.
