Super League Round 5 Preview

The Eagles have swept all before them so far this season claiming four wins from four and sitting comfortably atop the table. But if any match looks to be one of the more difficult ones for them, it is Spirit away.
On the face of it at the time, it seemed a surprise that Spirit went down to Bossy there in round two, but Bossy?s form to date has proven otherwise. It is a rare event that Spirit lose at home so the Eagles will need to be at their best to ensure that it becomes two defeats in a row. But the Eagles are riding high and no doubt confident that they have the goods to win. 
Goals are likely in this one, with Parramatta?s Shayne Ardle and Spirit?s Ben Gough both leading the way in the Super League goalscoring department. It will be interesting to see if the Eagles can keep their goal intact for a fifth game against one of the competition?s leading marksman.
An equally enthralling fixture takes place at Pluim Park when Fraser Park travel to Central Coast. Both sides are yet to get off the mark, so if nothing else, one or both will at least have some reward this weekend. A win is clearly preferred to ensure that the gap at the bottom doesn?t get too great from the rest of the table. A loss here for either side will make the season a long struggle.
A depleted Granville Rage visit St George Stadium, also on Saturday. The Rage will be without the suspended Nenos Bobo and Nathan Rivera, sent off last weekend, but have the quality to make up for this shortfall. Last weekend?s loss was the Rage?s first this season, but the early send off at ten minutes to Bobo, may make the result against Mount Druitt an anomaly. St George will do well to remember Granville?s win at the Stadium last season.
Three games feature on Sunday with second placed FC Bossy entertaining Northern Tigers. The Tigers perhaps should have won last weekend, conceding a late goal to Macarthur Rams so they will be keen get back on the winning track. For Bossy, last weekend?s loss to Parramatta was no doubt a disappointment and a further loss here will see them back in the pack.
Sydney University travel to Lynwood Park to meet the Rams. While both sides sit eight and ninth respectively, they are both only two points from third, indicating how close the competition currently is. It was Sydney University?s first loss last weekend while Macarthur have also only lost the once.   
Finally, on Sunday, Dulwich Hill travel out west to Mount Druitt Town Rangers. Both sides are coming off good wins from last weekend, and Dully, particularly, can be fairly pleased with their results since their return to Super League. Mount Druitt had a slow start but have picked up some good points in the past couple of weeks so it all points to a close encounter this Sunday.
Super League Top Goalscorers
4-     Shayne Ardel (Parramatta Eagles), Ben Gough (Spirit FC)

3-   Paul Davies (Northern Tigers), Daniel Fogarty (Parramatta Eagles), Jay Lucas (Dulwich Hill), Ryo Maekawa (St George), Michael Simmonds (Northern Tigers) 

-By Peter Rowney