Super League Round 1 Finals Preview

The elimination final between Sydney University and St George takes place on Saturday at Hensley Field, Pagewood (kick off 7.30pm) and will no doubt be an enthralling evening?s entertainment.
Both sides have played good passing football this season, some of the best in the league, and this matchup will no doubt see more of the same.
There has been nothing between them over the course of the season, with both matches having finished up all square. The first meeting, in round three, saw St George take an early 2-0 lead, only for University to turn that around to draw level at 2-2 by the final whistle.
The return midweek meeting at St George was also a close affair but this time it was St George who overturned a University half time advantage to equalise at 1-1.
To further underline the closeness between the two teams, it was only on goal difference that University snared fourth place above St George, and that by courtesy of one goal.
To add to the occasion this Saturday, the game will feature two of the league?s top scoring strikers in St George?s Juan Chavez and Uni?s Christian Soares.
Chavez claimed the Golden Boot after scoring four last weekend to finish the season on a mightily impressive 25 goals while Soares? total of 14 goals saw him finish the season as the fourth highest, only Troy Eedy (Mount Druitt) and Tim Simpson (Spirit FC), splitting the pair.
But while Chavez and Soares may be their sides? respective leading lights, it will also pay to take notice of the support cast.
The Saints? Tanju Balabanel has not gone unnoticed this season, hitting the net on ten occasions while Uni?s Emiliano Vigliante, who scored the winner last Sunday to put University into the finals, has hit eight.
So there will be plenty of talent on show this Saturday with the game sure to live up to its promise. The knockout feature of this game will only add to the excitement.
Sunday?s fixture, the preliminary final between PCYC Parramatta and Spirit FC will take centre stage at Melita Stadium (3pm) as both sides look for the shortest route to the Grand Final.
PCYC will need to overcome the disappointment of losing the Premiership on goal difference, after seeming to have the title won only a few short weeks ago. A couple of upset losses, not least at home to FC Bossy, ultimately put paid to their chances but Parramatta will have the chance to redeem themselves in the finals series. And after having lost the Grand Final last season, they will no doubt be looking to go one better this year.
Their opponents on Sunday, Spirit FC, have impressed many with their performances this season. This is only their first season in Super League, after having won the first division last season, and they have done extremely well to make the finals at the first attempt.
Led ably from the front by the tall Tim Simpson, Spirit will of course look to his goals to overcome a Parramatta side who have had some difficulty in hitting the net in recent weeks.
But while they may lack a prominent goalscorer when compared to the other finals contenders, Parramatta have shared the goals around this season. A cluster of players have netted a decent number of goals, with Chris Camilleri, Craig Jacob, Mathew Clowes and Mario Ghobrial leading the charge, showing clear evidence that they can score from across the park.
The two clashes between the sides saw a 2-2 draw at Christie Park in the opening round of the season, while the return at Melita saw Parramatta win by the solitary goal.
Sunday?s game will again be close, no question, and all the more thrilling for it.
So two games this weekend, both very much enticing, as the Super League Finals gets off to a flyer.
-By Peter Rowney