As another season comes to an end, two of the biggest rivalries in Western Australian Rugby - Associates and Cottesloe are preparing to go head to head chasing the Fortescue Premiership Division trophy.
The two sides share a rich history dating back several generations, making this a highly anticipated Grand Final.
Chasing back-to-back premierships, Cottesloe have enjoyed another successful season which included 11 big wins thanks to a strong attacking reputation.
Following round ten it seemed Cottesloe were heading into finals undefeated, but the side hit a road bump with two losses in a row which saw them slip to second place.
However the ‘Gulls’ were quick to bounce back with a narrow 22-16 win over Palmyra in last week’s Semi Final at Harvey Field, thanks to some crucial tries from Ben Grant and James Blackburn.
Cottesloe’s flavoursome attacking approach has been a pleasure to watch in 2020, as they have bamboozled sides with their fast-paced rapid style of play, something they will need to overcome the vicious defence of Associates.
Following their premiership in 2019, Cottesloe have raised the bar to another level and with experienced campaigners such as Tobias Hoskins floating in their ranks the ‘Gull’s’ will be in safe hands when they take to the field on Saturday.
Leading the charge in the backline, fly-half Caleb Young has been a revelation for Cottesloe, finishing the season as the competition’s highest points scorer, and has been a heavy presence with ball in hand.
Another player to look out for will be Cottesloe stalwart Alistair Haining who’s been a potent weapon, topping the competitions try scoring list who will cause headaches for Associates if they can’t shut him down.
Along with a deadly backline, Cottesloe aren’t without power in the forwards, harbouring a solid set piece that has provided a comfortable attacking platform throughout the season.
After a tumultuous 2019, Associates called for a massive overhaul for their 2020 season and it proved to make the difference as they wrecked havoc across the competition with 11 wins whilst also claiming the minor premiership.
‘Soaks’ Head coach Damian Elton and his men have crafted an intrinsic style of game that has served them well this season and was evident in their semi final win over West’s Scarborough over the weekend.
A huge strength of Associates is their ability to suffocate teams in defence and take away any breath of attacking life with blistering line speed.
Along with that, Associates transition from defence to attack has also been a handy tool in their repertoire, with a big chunk of their tries coming off counter attack.
With a mammoth forward pack at their disposal, Associates have found an abundance of momentum up front thanks to a sensational set piece that has paved the way for a juicy attacking game.
Up front for Associates is a host of household names with the likes of Nick Hyde, JP Sauni and Alex Rovira who will all be important factors with the ball in hand come Saturday.
In the backline the half-back pairing of Lachlan Phillips and Luke Raduva has proven to make a healthy chemistry, while the consistent performances of Sam Healy have earned him numerous spots in Rugby WA’s teams of the week.
Associates haven’t beaten Cottesloe since round 18, 2018 and have succumbed to three losses in a row to their Broome Street neighbours, but are confident they can overcome their arch rivals after a blistering finish to the regular season.
The last time these two sides met was in round four in what was a feisty edition of the ‘Battle of Broome Street’ which saw Cottesloe run away with a 27-17 victory at Allen Park.
As two of the most prodigious clubs in Western Australia, both clubs have shared 19 premierships between them since 1963, with Associates winning nine premierships and Cottesloe picking up their tenth last year.
While Cottesloe will be looking for their second premiership in a row, Associates are no stranger to premierships in recent times having beaten Kalamunda to win the Premier Grade Cup in 2018.
The last team to claim back-to-back premierships was West’s Scarborough who backed it up in 2016 and 2017.
After an illustrious season the crunch match that we’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived.
Both clubs will look to draw the curtain on 2020 in fine fashion and add to their trophy cabinets.
It’s too hard to call who will come out on top in this epic encounter, but what is certain is that the excitement levels for a Grand Final have never been higher and the Premier Grade Cup is anyone’s for the taking.
So, can Cottesloe do the magnificent and win back-to-back premierships? Or will Associates swoop in and spoil the show?
All the action kicks off this Saturday from 4:20pm AWST at McGillivray Oval (UWA Sports Park), Mt Claremont. Fans can also tune in LIVE via the Rugby WA Facebook page.
