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WA WIN SEVENTH STRAIGHT TITLE
Western Australia won its seventh national title in Alice Springs on Sunday, beating Northern Territory in a must win game 34 to 14
The Championships are competed between the non heartland rugby league states in WA, Victoria, Northern Territory and South Australia.
WA have held the champions title since 2002 and with the WA Reds now in the Jim Beam Cup, it was a good test for the state as to the depth of the players in the Western Australian competition. Northern Territory have become strong in the past two years and with Victoria having the benefits of the Storm development program, it was the most testing championships in recent years.
On Friday WA easily accounted for South Australia with a very comfortable 64 to 12 win to open their account, while Northern Territory beat Victoria. The telling difference for WA was their speed and fitness. Daniel Jennings and Clae Morgan both ran in 3 tries each with Nathan Clarke scored 7 goals.
Saturday saw WA beaten for the first time in recent years by Victoria in controversial circumstances going down 12 to 10. Victoria scored in the final 2 minutes in both halves to record the win in very boggy and wet conditions, thanks to 2 scrum feeds at critical times and a string of penalties.
Going into the final game against and unbeaten Northern Territory, the WA boys new they had to win both halves due to the points system to secure the title.
They rushed into their work and quickly put on 12 points. To the benefit of WA it was fine day after a very wet weekend they continued to dominate the first half to go to a 20 to 4 half time lead.
Coach Andrew Korn new the job was only half done and stressed to the team at the break the need to carry on the work rate and win the second half.
Both teams had tries early in the second half and WA went to a 34 to 14 lead to be 4 points ahead of the NT and the title in their grasp.
On the back of some dubious decisions by the referee and 45 seconds mysteriously added to the clock, the win came down to the last few seconds with the Territory kicking across the field on their last tackle only to see the winger drop the ball over the line seconds before the siren sounding.
Tries in the game went to Clae Morgan (2), Nathan Clark, Michael Guthrie, Daniel Jennings, Ben Dickson and Waisake Rauroro.
The WA team were elated at winning the championships and further cementing their place as the premier rugby league state outside of the heartlands.
Further to the win was the selection of 9 players and coach from WA into the Australian Affiliated States team to play in Fiji and Tonga at the end of this week.
Representatives from WA include:
Clae Morgan South Perth
Pikari te wara South Perth
Waisake Rauroro Central Bulldogs
Ben McCrone South Perth
Rick Williams North Beach
David Sainty South Perth
James Considine South Perth
Dave Collis South Perth
Anthony Cutrupi South Perth
Coach Andrew Korn South Perth
Western Australia won its seventh national title in Alice Springs on Sunday, beating Northern Territory in a must win game 34 to 14
The Championships are competed between the non heartland rugby league states in WA, Victoria, Northern Territory and South Australia.
WA have held the champions title since 2002 and with the WA Reds now in the Jim Beam Cup, it was a good test for the state as to the depth of the players in the Western Australian competition. Northern Territory have become strong in the past two years and with Victoria having the benefits of the Storm development program, it was the most testing championships in recent years.
On Friday WA easily accounted for South Australia with a very comfortable 64 to 12 win to open their account, while Northern Territory beat Victoria. The telling difference for WA was their speed and fitness. Daniel Jennings and Clae Morgan both ran in 3 tries each with Nathan Clarke scored 7 goals.
Saturday saw WA beaten for the first time in recent years by Victoria in controversial circumstances going down 12 to 10. Victoria scored in the final 2 minutes in both halves to record the win in very boggy and wet conditions, thanks to 2 scrum feeds at critical times and a string of penalties.
Going into the final game against and unbeaten Northern Territory, the WA boys new they had to win both halves due to the points system to secure the title.
They rushed into their work and quickly put on 12 points. To the benefit of WA it was fine day after a very wet weekend they continued to dominate the first half to go to a 20 to 4 half time lead.
Coach Andrew Korn new the job was only half done and stressed to the team at the break the need to carry on the work rate and win the second half.
Both teams had tries early in the second half and WA went to a 34 to 14 lead to be 4 points ahead of the NT and the title in their grasp.
On the back of some dubious decisions by the referee and 45 seconds mysteriously added to the clock, the win came down to the last few seconds with the Territory kicking across the field on their last tackle only to see the winger drop the ball over the line seconds before the siren sounding.
Tries in the game went to Clae Morgan (2), Nathan Clark, Michael Guthrie, Daniel Jennings, Ben Dickson and Waisake Rauroro.
The WA team were elated at winning the championships and further cementing their place as the premier rugby league state outside of the heartlands.
Further to the win was the selection of 9 players and coach from WA into the Australian Affiliated States team to play in Fiji and Tonga at the end of this week.
Representatives from WA include:
Clae Morgan South Perth
Pikari te wara South Perth
Waisake Rauroro Central Bulldogs
Ben McCrone South Perth
Rick Williams North Beach
David Sainty South Perth
James Considine South Perth
Dave Collis South Perth
Anthony Cutrupi South Perth
Coach Andrew Korn South Perth
