After a week off due to the Wallaby v Fiji Test Match played in Perth, and Wests Annual Test Match Lunch, once again superbly organised by our Immediate Past President, Graham Brash, to whom the Club owes a big vote of thanks, as well as Garry Sampson, M.C. for the day and all Table Captains who did a huge job in selling tickets. With 2 Tests against South Africa and 1 against England in Perth between 2008 and 2010, we look forward to bigger and better Luncheons, with a change of venue very likely. Round 9 kicked off on Saturday 16 June, with 4 teams at Cottesloe and 4ths on the bus to Bunbury. Colts kicked off proceedings and after a fairly scrappy first half, went into half time 5-3 down. The second half was bit more lively although Wests didn't seem to want to play the rugby they are capable of and went down by 16 points to 8. 3rd Grade were meant to kick-off at the same time on number 2 field however the Ref didn't turn up. After phone calls to Rugby W.A. a Cott. member had qualifications to take on the job. With Cott. 5ths having a bye, they played with a number of their 5th Grade players as their 3rd Grade had been struggling. After a scrappy first half Wests went into half time leading 12 points to nil. Knowing they needed the bonus point win, they went all out in the second half and scored 3 more tries. Good games from Tristan Abbott, Steve Roberts, Paul Connelly, Nathan Wooten who was exceptional at No.8, whilst also in the forwards, Joe Allen, Alex Bruce, Sam Booth and Dave Louw toiled away admirably, and player Captain/Coach Richy Hyde led from the front. A good win thirds, lets do the same to Neddies next week. 2nd Grade played after Colts and after a slow start went on to win 38 points to 10. Flanker Matt O'Brien played out at Inside Centre and had an absolute binder of a game, whilst others to stand out were Ephraim Stephens, Doobs, Murray Skea, Robbie Keen, Craig Barrett with some outstanding goal kicking, Laurence Patalesio and Mike Ratcliffe. Seconds also welcomed a new winger who had arrived from South Africa on Thursday in Darren Pienaar, who had a solid game. Good win guys, the big test next week is unbeaten Nedlands. 1st Grade took the field knowing a big win was needed and 5 points on the ladder was the aim. Cott. opened the scoring with a penalty and lead 3-0. Wests were finding it hard to break the Cott. defence until Chris Miles scored after a sustained period of pressure and from there Wests were never headed, but left it very late to score the bonus point try and secure the 5 competition points. An outstanding game from Hendrik Janse Van Rensburg who scored 2 tries and took the ball up busting tackles, whilst good lineout ball was secured by our new big former Currie Cup playing lock from South Africa in Hein Edwards who was mobile around the field as well, whilst others to stand out were Kane Allen, Dave Von Kotze, Kevin Williams in his first game for Wests at halfback, Chris Miles, Kiti Fuluna, Elliot Keuhlmann-Hall and Tom DeBuf playing his first run on game for 1sts at loose head prop at 18 years of age. The reserves backed up well, with Matt O'Brien continuing where he left off from in 2nd grade and Greg Plimmer outstanding as usual, whilst Keith Bradley, Darren Pienaar and Jarrod McGreevey all went well off the bench. 4ths went down to play unbeaten Bunbury and after holding them to 3-0 at halftime, ended up losing 27 points to 7, however Coach Dean 'Rangi' McKee said they were far from disgraced. Keep at it guys you can easily make the four. A big test next week when we play Nedlands at the Foreshore for the Bellerby - Arnold Trophy, which we need to get back to Wests.