MORAHAN BOOSTS SPIRIT FOR SEMI-FINAL CLASH

Oct 13 • General News, International • 1142 Views • Comments Off on MORAHAN BOOSTS SPIRIT FOR SEMI-FINAL CLASH

Wallaby speedster Luke Morahan returns at fullback to headline the Perth Spirit team for Sunday afternoon’s do-or-die semi-final clash with the Sydney Rays at Pittwater Park in Sydney.

In further changes to the side that took down the UC Vikings in Canberra last week, Ian Prior will start in the No.10 jersey replacing the injured Jono Lance while Semisi Masirewa will make his first start of the season with Russell Burges coming onto the bench.

The Spirit head into the semi-final with five wins from seven starts in the regular season and Head Coach Dwayne Nestor says the team is excited for the challenge of finals rugby.

“Making it to this stage was one of our goals at the start of the season because I knew we had a quality squad,” he said. “Finals footy is such a great experience and where we start playing for sheep stations so the team is really looking forward to getting out there.”

Sunday’s clash sees the Spirit comes up against one of the only teams they failed to defeat in the regular season and Nestor believes the Western Australians learnt a lot from their 28-8 loss to the Rays back in Round Two.

“We played pretty poorly when we first played the Rays and I think we were a bit spooked by the rain. It’s going to be dry on Sunday so I think we will be better simply for that.”

“They had a fast defensive line and picked their moments well to get on ball and slow ours down. We will be better prepared for that this time.”

Nestor says the inclusion of Morahan will be a huge boost to the side in more ways than one.

“It’s awesome to have a player of Mozza’s (Luke Morahan) quality back in the side because he brings such confidence to the players around him but he’s also such a great team man. If you look at those two attributes, his skills and his leadership he will definitely bring a lot to the team.”

The forward pack remains unchanged from the side that took down the Vikings with some brilliant set-piece work last week.

In the front row, former Warringah Rat Pek Cowan will return to ‘Rat Park’ when he runs on at loosehead, hooker Heath Tessmann will again captain the side while Jermaine Ainsley retains his spot at tighthead.

In the second row, Cottesloe’s Kieran Stringer and Onehunga Havili will look to continue their strong partnership.

An all Western Force trio rounds out the starting pack with Ross Haylett-Petty and Richard Hardwick on the flanks and Brynard Stander in the No.8 jersey.

Ryan Louwrens and Ian Prior will direct the backline in the halves after working together solidly when Jono Lance went down injured last week.

In the midfield, Ben Tapuai and Bill Meakes will look to straighten the attack and take on the Rays’ defence to get the Spirit moving forward when they run on at inside and outside centre respectively.

Semisi Masirewa, Marcel Brache and Luke Morahan make up a red hot back three with Morahan returning to the Spirit line up for the first time since his hat-trick against Queensland Country in Round Four.

Buildcorp NRC- Semi Final

Sydney Rays (2) vs Perth Spirit (3)

Sunday, 16 October

Pittwater Park, Sydney

Kick-off: 12:00PM AWST

Broadcast: Fox Sports 2 (502)

#	NAME
1	PEK COWAN (Wests Scarborough)
2	HEATH TESSMANN (Nedlands)
3	JERMAINE AINSLEY (Nedlands)
4	KIERAN STRINGER (Cottesloe)
5	ONEHUNGA HAVILLI (Palmyra)
6	ROSS HAYLETT-PETTY (Cottesloe)
7	RICHARD HARDWICK (UWA)
8	BRYNARD STANDER (Nedlands)
9	RYAN LOUWRENS (Cottesloe)
10	IAN PRIOR (Nedlands)
11	SEMISI MASIREWA (Wests Scarborough)
12	BEN TAPUAI (Wanneroo)
13	BILLY MEAKES (TBC)
14	MARCEL BRACHE (Perth Bayswater)
15	LUKE MORAHAN (Kalamunda)
16	ANARU RANGI (Nedlands)
17	LAIONE MULIKIHAAMEA (Joondalup)
18	SHAMBECKLER VUI (UWA)
19	GRAYSON KNAPP(Nedlands)
20	RUSSELL BURGES (Kalamunda)
21	MICHAEL RURU (Nedlands)
22	AJ ALATIMU (Wests Scarborough)
23	ERIC VASUKICAKAU (Cottesloe)