Royals Review - Rd 17 vs Claremont

‘A week is a long time in football’. A famous footy saying that was magnificently demonstrated with East Perth’s stirring seven-point victory against the Claremont Tigers on Sunday.

The disappointing 2-point loss to cellar dwellers West Coast was quickly flipped with one of the Royals best wins in recent memory. It was the first time East Perth has beaten Claremont since Round 17 2017.

In abysmal conditions, the Royals stuck with their recent form matching it with the Tigers for the first half. Kicking with the advantage of a blustery wind in the third, the Royals piled on scoreboard pressure kicking five goals to two to take a 15-point lead into the last quarter.

In front of a number of Life Members, and Loyal Royals who braved the wintery condition for Members Appreciation Day, an early goal into the wind, to skipper Jackson Ramsay put the Royals out to a game high 21-point lead.

Goals were traded for the next 20-minutes as the Royals responded to the constant pressure placed on them by the experienced Tigers outfit. Some tense moments in the closing stages saw Claremont threaten to steal the match, however the Royals maintained composure to run out eventual winners.

The atmosphere in the grandstand and rooms afterwards was electric, as the members and fans were rewarded with a glimpse of what the Royals can do when they put together four quarters of good football.

Captain Jackson Ramsay again led from the front collecting 31 possessions, eight tackles and two pivotal final quarter goals. He was willingly supported by Angus Schumacher (25 touches), Rohan Kerr (21) and Kye Willcocks (20). On a day key forwards dread, Nick Merritt stood tall kicking three second half goals.

The Reserves copped the worst conditions of the day with a stiff, swirling wind, thunder and hail in their heavy 51-point defeat to Reserve ladder leaders Claremont.

The Colts failed to kick a goal in the first three quarters of their match, however showed plenty of fight kicking three goals to one in the last quarter to peg the margin back to 17 points. Missing 12 of their best 22 players due to representative and school duties, there was still plenty of positives to take out of the match.

The Royals turn their attention to Perth this Saturday, who will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing loss to the Eagles. Get down to Leederville this Saturday to cheer on the boys

*Images Courtesy of the WAFC