The Bunbury Bulls Rugby club hosted the inaugural South West Rugby 10s competition at the Hay Park Multi Sports Pavilion on Saturday, April 14.
Five hours of non-stop rugby culminated in the South West Rugby 10s Shield being won by the Geraldton Tiger Sharks.
The Bunbury Bulls, Margaret River Gropers, Collie Mongrels, Geraldton Tiger Sharks and an invitational team made up of the former South West Warriors Rugby League team battled it out with some thrilling rugby on display.
Geraldton made the trip to the South West with the intention of winning, bringing a large squad of large players with a distinctly Fijian influence.
They went undefeated throughout the tournament and were worthy winners.
It was a great day for country rugby which was well hosted by the Bulls in collaboration with their sports partners, South West Phoenix Football club.
Saturday, April 21 marked the third year of the King of the Hill Trophy clash between Bunbury and Collie.
Bunbury Bulls Rugby Club took on their fierce local rivals, Collie Mongrels, for the title.
This trophy marks the start of the South West Rugby Season and has been won by the Bulls in 2016 and 2017.
This year’s new look Bulls team boasts and array of young talent who have progressed through the Junior Bulls and are now eligible for Senior Rugby.
The addition of youth, speed and fitness proved too much again for Collie in the end.
Bunbury started strongly and caught Collie out with the pace and precision in their game.
A bulldozing try from new South African prop Matt Smith set the tone, converted by Jean Godfrey.
Collie came back strongly using their superior size and power.
However, strong technically sound defence repelled the bigger pack and frustrated their efforts.
Collie began to exert pressure and the game stagnated with neither side really gaining ascendency.
A good counter attack from a loose kick in midfield allowed a quick ball to be recycled.
Slick handling by the Bulls lead to promising youngster Wian Ratts crossing in the corner, converted by Godfrey.
In the second half, Collie’s numbers were boosted from the sideline and regular substitutions kept the pace of the game high and frantic at times.
Bunbury were well-managed at fly-half by Jonny Marks and determined kick chase by Toma Pua kept Collie in their own half.
Repeated pressure and hard running by wing Juan Le Roux and full back Tom Brown stretched the Collie side.
Quick ruck ball in the Collie 22-metre zone saw veteran half-back Jason Hall fire out a long accurate pass to the rampaging Toma Pua who used his power to blast through the winger and touch down in the corner.
The final score was 19-0 to Bunbury. The King of the Hill Trophy retained by the Bulls for the third consecutive year.
