NSW Super League Round 17 Preview
Saturday
Only one game on this Saturday night.
Pending damp weather closing Pluim Park again it should be a do-or-die matchup between Central Coast Lightning and visitors Mt Druitt Town Rangers on Saturday night in Lisarow.
Sitting 10th and 11th on the table respectively and with last placed Fraser Park starting to get in among the goals, picking up points, making the margin for the wooden spoon very tight – so neither side will want to slip up here.
Both teams can score goals, and leak them in bucket loads, so it may be a high scoring one especially as both sides like to go forward. Nevertheless both coaches, Peter Preston and Gilbert Yalda have worked hard in recent weeks to fine-tune their teams.
The game is due to commence at 7:30pm (Grade 20 at 5pm)
Sunday
There are four games on Sunday afternoon
FC Bossy Liverpool follow up their last minute away win last week with a home game at Ernie Smith Reserve (Kelso Crescent, Moorebank) against Sydney University. With a game in hand, another win to Bossy (which would be their 5th in a row)would set them up nicely for the run into the finals in 6 weeks time.
Sydney University’s draw with Macarthur Rams last weekend underlines their quality but unless coach John Caruana can get the best out of his charges, and Christian Soares find his scoring boots again, they will be also-rans. Bossy will be a tough opponent with Paul Carter’s deft use of his squad.
The ‘students’ also have a game in hand, a tough one against the Rage to be played prior, this Thursday – so a win would give them some momentum; a loss, tired legs.
With a win last weekend and a draw in a midweek re-scheduled game Fraser Park are oh-so-close to dumping the wooden spoon in someone elses lap with a win at their home ground (Fraser Park, off Marrikville Road) this round. It won’t be Parramatta Eagles that cops it however as the league leaders look to forget their second loss to Spirit FC and will want to take this opportunity to cement their leadership.
The Eagles have firepower in Shayne Ardel and Daniel Fogarty but they haven’t scored as prolifically as coach Brian Dene may have expected, plus they face a Fraser Park that has been getting among the goals of late, especially via Blaz Dejanovic. If the home side’s defence holds they may make a game of it!
Macarthur Rams play host to Granville Rage at Lynwood Park (Rangers Road, St Helens Park). This is never an easy road trip and Macarthur need to string some back-to-back wins together to have a shot at finals football.
Rams coach Claudio Canoso may be hoping that Granville’s erratic form continues but will need his own strikers like the league’s leading scorer Sam Messam, supported by Chris Gomez, to fire.
Rage have that re-scheduled game prior, so they will know whether their finals berth is looking good or not. Coach Nick Porecca needs Nenos Bobo and Pat Cappuccio to lift this week and find the net.
With a game in hand after a midweek draw that slips them on goal difference into 5th spot St George will host neighbours Dulwich Hill at St. George Stadium (Bestic Street, Rockdale).
Dully have been scoring goals and picking up draws against the bottom teams but the Saints may be a different proposition, especially now that Ivo De Jesus and Juan Chaves are back among the goals and Denis Cutura is chipping in as well.
Coach Mark Strachan for the visitors will be looking to Antonio Faria to keep those goals coming and will also be happy that others are adding to the total. Norman Tome got on the score sheet last weekend and Michael Lloyd-Green may be one for Saints to also watch.
These games are due to commence at 3pm (Grade 20 at 1pm)
The R17 match between Spirit FC and Northern Tigers is, at time of writing, still set down for Sunday at 3pm; which is also the time Spirit FC will be playing in the McDonalds Cup Final against Marconi Stallions at Seven Hills – the rescheduled game date/time is yet to be advised.
Re-scheduled games coming up:
Round 10: Wednesday 14 July – St George vs FC Bossy Liverpool
Round 12: Thursday 8 July – Sydney University vs Granville Rage
Check all times and grounds on this web site’s fixtures page on the day of the game for latest information.
Get out to a Super League game this weekend, as you can be assured of a quality football experience, and perhaps another upset or two.
Re-scheduled game results: (Tues 6 July)
Round 12: Fraser Park 2 (Blaz Dejanovic x 2)- St George Saints 2 (Ivo De Jesus x 2)
Round 12: Central Coast Lightning 2 (Graham Toope 37′, Nathan Mosely 56′)- Dulwich Hill 2 (Antonio Faria 28′, Own Goal 48′)
– by Chris Dunkerley
