Super League Round 3 Preview
Just five teams remain undefeated (PCYC Parramatta, Bonnyrigg, FC Bossy, St George and the Northern Tigers) after two rounds of thrilling action, but each of them will be tested this weekend. Central Coast Lightning and Fairfield City will also be keen to post their first points of the season.
PCYC Parramatta Eagles shouldn?t expect any favours at Garside Park when they visit Granville Rage on Saturday night (7.30pm kick-off).
The last time they met at the ground, newly signed Granville player Louie Berbis booted an injury-time penalty to snatch an edgy 2-2 draw.
This was after an earlier Rage penalty tied scores up at 1-1 inside the final quarter-hour. Granville was Parramatta?s bogey-side with the Rage scoring twice in the closing 15-minutes to down the Eagles 2-1 at Melita Stadium.
Win-less Sydney Uni face a mountain to climb in trying to conquer disoriented champions Bonnyrigg White Eagles at Bonnyrigg Sports Club on Saturday night (7.30pm).
The White Eagles are yet to taste victory this season but did enjoy a double success against Uni last year, winning 1-0 and 4-0. However, Uni also know what it takes to pickpocket Bonnyrigg having beaten the White Eagles 2-0 at the sports club in 2006.
Northern Tigers travel up the freeway to tackle Central Coast Lightning at Pluim Park on Saturday night (7.30pm). Last year?s grand finalists have banked a win and draw in their first two games and will very feel confident of rolling the Coast.
Form is well on the Tigers side, the last three encounters between the sides going Northern?s way, and all away from home. The Lightning has not beaten the Tigers since a gritty 2-1 win in 2006.
Bossy Liverpool hosting St George Saints at Ernie Smith Reserve on Sunday afternoon (3pm kick-off) promises to be an entertaining affair.
The combatants battled out two enthralling contests last year, Liverpool superstar Alex Canak netting twice to hand Bossy a late 2-1 win at home, ending a seven-match Saints winning streak. St George got their revenge in the second meeting, holding onto a comfortable 2-1 win.
Mount Druitt Town Rangers host Fraser Park Dragons at Popondetta Park on Sunday (3pm), and the result really could go either way. Mount Druitt are yet to trouble the scorers this year and will be keen to break their duck in a good showing at home, much like their last year?s 3-2 win over Fraser Park at Popondetta.
The Dragons responded with a 1-0 win at Fraser Park later in the year and look to be a more organised outfit in 2008.
Rockdale City Suns welcome Fairfield City Lions to the Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday (3pm) with a history of close clashes behind them.
The Suns came back twice, including a Dominic Hudap goal in the 93rd minute, to steal a 2-2 draw at Norford Park last year, before the Lions sprung a 1-1 draw at Rockdale in their second encounter. Little separated the two sides in 2006, when Rockdale won the title, with Fairfield holding a slight edge, drawing 2-2 at Ilinden and winning 2-1 at home.
-By Daniel De Nardi
