Super League Round 11 Preview
High achievers Spirit could not have predicted a brighter start to their debut Super League year and justified their position in a higher league by crunching Central Coast 7-1 last week. But the Tigers are on a five game winning streak and will be hungry to add to their scalps. A win to either side will see them press for a top-three placing.
After an autumn full of road trips, Granville Rage begins their winter campaign at Garside Park with a match-up with old nemesis Sydney University on Saturday night (7.30pm). With three wins and two draws between them apiece from eight league encounters, only one goal has separated the sides over four years (the Rage have scored 18 goals to Uni?s 19). There last meeting finished in an epic 3-3 draw at Garside.
Central Coast Lightning play high-rollers Rockdale City Suns at Pluim Park on Saturday night (7.30pm). The Lightning have only got a week to turn around their 7-1 thrashing at the hands of Spirit last weekend, while the Suns have charged to the top of the leaderboard and probably haven?t reached their potential, making it an even tougher task for the Coasters. History is against them too; in five league meetings, Rockdale have won three and drawn one.
If past games are anything to go by, the game between stragglers FC Bossy Liverpool and St George Saints at Ernie Smith Reserve on Sunday afternoon should be a cracker. As well as needing every point to lift them away from the relegation danger side, the two sides have produced some outstanding encounters. Following a 0-0 draw at Moorebank in 2006, every game has gone to the home side by a single goal victory, bar a 3-1 win to Liverpool last year.
Second-placed Macarthur Rams visit second-last Fraser Park FC on Sunday afternoon (3pm). With Fraser Park continuing their steady rise, Macarthur will need to exercise caution in a match with plenty of background. Fraser Park blitzed the Rams in their first four league meetings, scoring 13 goals to their opponent?s one. A 1-1 draw at Fraser Park in 2006 proved a turning point with Macarthur winning both 2007 games by two goals.
Third-placed PCYC Parramatta Eagles welcome third-from-bottom Mount Druitt Town Rangers to Melita Stadium on Sunday afternoon (3pm). Both sides may be a bit rusty with last week?s rain postponing both of their games, and Mount Druitt still have a catch-up against St George to clear as well. The Rangers will have to be at their best to claim their first league victory over the Eagles, with Parramatta winning their first three encounters by one goal each time before a 1-1 draw at Popondetta last year.
-By Daniel De Nardi
