SAVAGE TO LEAD PERTH SPIRIT AGAINST NORTH HARBOUR RAYS
Palmyra prop, Joe Savage, will captain the Perth Spirit when they tackle the North Harbour Rays this Saturday, 20 September in Round Five of the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship (NRC) in Sydney.
Savage has led the Palmyra Pindan Premier Grade side on numerous occasions and brings a wealth of knowledge to the front-row with Asteron Life Super Rugby experience with the Chiefs and was recognised as the Pindan Premier Grade’s most outstanding player, awarded the PG Hampshire Award in 2013.
Savage will pack down alongside Cottesloe’s Robbie Abel and Oliver Hoskins
Corey Thomas comes into the second-row in place of Rory Walton who has been sidelined with a knee injury sustained against the Rising while lock Brent Murphy has retained his position.
There has been a change to the back-row with Richard Hardwick moving to the blindside flank and fellow ‘Future Force’ scholarship holder, Kane Koteka elevated to the openside flank. Following his consistent high work rate over the past two matches, including a try against the Rising, Alex Rovira will again pull on the No. 8 jersey.
The Associates combination of Justin Turner and Zack Holmes will again compete at scrumhalf and flyhalf respectively.
The speed and power of Palmyra’s Va’a Mailei has provided the side with considerable impact off the bench and this week he will start on the wing alongside Brad Lacey from Wests Scarborough. Lacey scored a thrilling try last week and both wingers are primed for a fast-paced match against the Rays.
The centres pairing of Luke Burton and Ammon Matuauto remains unchanged this week with Dillyn Leyds lining up at fullback again.
The bench will see some new faces this week with Kaisa Reidy (Cottesloe), Scott Stevens (Nedlands) and Oscar Backhouse (UWA) all set to make their Perth Spirit debut.
UWA and Future Force hooker, Harry Scoble and Cottesloe prop, Alec Hepburn, will cover the front row along with Higgins. Stevens, Backhouse and Cottesloe’s Ross Haylett-Petty will make their impact in the second and back rows from the bench. Scrumhalf Michael Ruru, and inside back, Davis Tavita from Nedlands, will also come on from the bench.
Perth Spirit coach, Kevin Foote, said the team’s work-rate and morale had been high all week and had no doubt their effort would be continued on Saturday under Savage’s leadership.
“Joe’s a player with a lot of experience; he is a strong leader, is very respected within the group and will lead the team well on Saturday,” Foote said. “This week we will see another three players get the chance to make their mark in this competition as we continue to grow the player base and expose the Western Australian talent to another level of rugby.
“The Rays had a good win over Queensland Country on the Gold Coast last weekend and they’re a team we have a lot of respect for.
“Our guys put in a strong effort against a very dangerous Rising side last week, and it’s important that we have a sustained performance, are continuing to work for each other and continuing to play the game right through to the end this week in Sydney.”
2014 Buildcorp National Rugby Championship – Week Five
North Harbour Rays v Perth Spirit
Brookvale Oval, Sydney
Saturday, 20 September 2014
Kick-off: 5.30pm (local)/3.30pm (AWST)
1. Joe Savage (Palmyra)
2. Robbie Abel (Cottesloe)
3. Oliver Hoskins (Cottesloe)
4. Corey Thomas (UWA)
5. Brent Murphy (Perth Bayswater)
6. Richard Hardwick (UWA)
7. Kane Koteka (Wests Scarborough)
8. Alex Rovira (Associates)
9. Justin Turner (Associates)
10. Zack Holmes (Associates)
11. Va’a Mailei (Palmyra)
12. Luke Burton (UWA)
13. Ammon Matuauto (Associates)
14. Brad Lacey (Wests Scarborough)
15. Dillyn Leyds (Palmyra)
Reserves
16. Harry Scoble (UWA)
17. Alec Hepburn (Cottesloe)
18. Kaisa Reidy (Cottesloe)
19. Scott Stevens (Nedlands)
20. Ross Haylett-Petty (Cottesloe)
21. Oscar Backhouse (UWA)
22. Michael Ruru (Nedlands)
23. Davis Tavita (Nedlands)
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