PFNL 2018: Rockingham breaks 200-point barrier with demolition job over Waroona

Rockingham piled pain on the Demons all day, demolishing the visitors with an emphatic 32.12 (204) to 5.5 (35) walloping thanks in large to another best-on-ground performance from Mitch Curnow.

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The Rams were ready to roll from the get-go, blazing their way out of the blocks with 12 goals in the opening term to Waroona’s one.

By quarter time they already held an astonishing 68-point lead over the Demons, and they refused to ease up in the second with a further eight goals buoying them to a 110-point buffer when the half time siren sounded.

The hosts could have been forgiven for putting the cue in the rack, but taking their foot off the pedal didn’t seem to be an option.

Six goals in the third and another six in the fourth saw Rockingham dominate across the entire four quarters, with their labour bearing the fruits of a 169-point win.

Goals came in a number of avenues for the Rams, with Tyler Sutton’s seven leading the way ahead of five from Fraser Millar and three each to Curnow, Luke Dowling, Chris Oliver and William Zilko.

All up more than half of Rockingham’s team hit the scoreboard, as they finished with a spread of 13 goal-kickers.

Coach Scott Franklin praised his playing group, saying the monumental win came on the back of improved disposal efficiency and a controlling midfield.

“We’ve been doing a lot of things well to start the year, but we needed to get better with our skills and delivery of the ball, and we took a massive step forward in those over the weekend,” he said.

“Obviously you don’t go into the game thinking you’re going to win like that, especially against Waroona who had been improving each week, but to come away with more than 200 points does a lot for our group’s belief.”

Curnow’s best afield effort follows on from a super start to 2018, with his coach lauding the midfielder’s ability.

“His work rate is really high and he’s got a clean pair of hands, and that’s exactly what you want from a guy who spends a lot of time in the middle of the ground,” Franklin said.

“He’s been brilliant for us.”

Rockingham improves to a 4-2 record on the back of the win, good enough to have them in second on the ladder.

It’s also a massive percentage boost to the Rams, who now boast the league’s highest at 168.30 per cent.

On the flip side, it’s back to the drawing board for the Demons, who face another tough ask when they host the league-leading Baldivis Brumbies this coming weekend.