SPIRIT SIDE NAMED TO RAID VIKINGS

Aug 21 • Australia, General News, National • 1535 Views • Comments Off on SPIRIT SIDE NAMED TO RAID VIKINGS

Western Force lock, Rory Walton, will captain the 23-man Perth Spirit team to take on the Canberra Vikings on Saturday afternoon in the Western Australian side’s first match in the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship.

The side will include 16 players from the Western Australian Pindan Premier Grade clubs and seven with Western Force representation in 2014.

In the front row, hooker Heath Tessmann, who played all 16 Super Rugby matches for the Western Force in 2014, will pack down alongside Cottesloe props Alec Hepburn and Oliver Hoskins. Hepburn a former England Under 20 representative, has been named at loosehead while Hoskins, an Australian Under 20 representative and 2014 Western Force debutant will start at tighthead.

Walton, who was named as part of the seven-man Standards Group for 2014 earlier in the week, will be joined in the second row by Perth Bayswater veteran lock, Brent Murphy.

It will be an all club rugby back row with Corey Thomas and Kane Koteka, 2014 Combined States U20 representatives, on the flanks and Associates’ Alex Rovira at No. 8, all of whom have come through the RugbyWA Academy pathway.

The halves pairing will see a combination that have played alongside each other before in Force and Associates representatives, Justin Turner and Zack Holmes.

On the wings, Palmyra’s Va’a Meilei and Cottesloe’s Nili Fielea will provide plenty of speed while Ammon Matuauto from Associates and 2014 Australian Under 20s representative and Western Force debutant Luke Burton will cover the centres.

On the bench, 2012 PG Hampshire winner and former Chiefs Super Rugby front-rower, Joe Savage will provide cover at loosehead while Hoskins will be backed by Force squad member Chris Heiberg from Perth Bayswater at tighthead. Australian Under 20s representative, Harry Scoble, will back-up Tessmann on the bench.

Cottesloe captain Kieran Stringer and UWA’s Richard Hardwick will cover the second-row and back-row respectively.

The Spirit has named the Nedlands’ pairing of Michael Ruru and Davis Tavita to cover the halves while Kalamunda winger Daley Harper of Kalamunda will also make his impact from the bench.

Coach David Wessels said his team was looking forward to starting their NRC campaign against the Vikings in what should be a challenging match.

“The team has been working hard in the lead up to the competition and we are excited to transfer our work in training to the field this Saturday against the Vikings,” Wessels said.

“The NRC will allow us to broaden our base of rugby players here in Western Australia and we have a good mix of club players and Super Rugby experienced players in this side this week.

“This is a great opportunity for a number of our club players to experience rugby at a higher lever and develop their game alongside and against Super Rugby players while also providing an opportunity for our Force players to gain exposure to a greater level of rugby.”

2014 Buildcorp National Rugby Championship – Week One
Canberra Vikings v Perth Spirit
Viking Park, Canberra
Saturday, 23 August 2014
Kick-off: 2.30pm (local)/ 12.30pm (AWST)

1. Alec Hepburn (Cottesloe)
2. Heath Tessmann (Nedlands)
3. Oliver Hoskins (Cottesloe)
4. Rory Walton (C) (Wests Scarborough)
5. Brent Murphy (Perth Bayswater)
6. Corey Thomas (UWA)
7. Kane Koteka (Wests Scarborough)
8. Alex Rovira (Associates)
9. Justin Turner (Associates)
10. Zack Holmes (Associates)
11. Nili Fielea (Cottesloe)
12. Luke Burton (UWA)
13. Ammon Matuauto (Associates)
14. Va’a Mailei (Palmyra)
15. Dillyn Leyds (Palmyra)
Reserves
16. Harry Scoble (UWA)
17. Joe Savage (Palmyra)
18. Chris Heiberg (Perth Bayswater)
19. Kieran Stringer (Cottesloe)
20. Richard Hardwick (UWA)
21. Michael Ruru (Nedlands)
22. Davis Tavita (Nedlands)
23. Daley Harper (Kalamunda)