NSW Super League Round 22 Preview

Perhaps none will be more tense than those at Popondetta Park and Melita Stadium. Any one of the bottom three could go down on the final day with Mount Druitt Town Rangers and Fraser Park meeting each other while Dulwich Hill take on Parramatta Eagles at Melita.
Dulwich Hill, with a 0-0 draw against Spirit on Wednesday, lifted themselves out of last place and above the Rangers on goal difference as a result. But they will have to be at their very best as they take on a rampaging Eagles team, still high on emotion after taking the Premiership. With Dulwich Hill agreeing to a switch to Melita Stadium due to the poor state of Arlington Oval, it will be a very nervy game indeed.
They will no doubt have some ears and eyes open to what is happening out at Popondetta. Simply put, a win for either Fraser Park or Mount Druitt will see the winner safe, while a loss for Mount Druitt will see them remain bottom, irrespective of the result at Parramatta, courtesy of their far inferior goal difference. But a Fraser Park loss and a Dulwich Hill draw, will see the club from Sydenham finish bottom, again due to inferior goal difference.
But a draw at Popondetta will require Dulwich Hill also to gain at least a point which will see Mount Druitt stay bottom.
Enough permutations to give anyone involved with the three clubs a heart attack on Sunday.
If these two games aren?t enough to keep interest alive, the struggle for a finals spot is also taking place across three of the remaining four games.
The equation is simplest at Lynwood Park where Macarthur Rams meet FC Bossy Liverpool. The winner will go through no matter what happens elsewhere. But a loss for the Rams, sixth before start of play, will see them out. A loss for Bossy will see them relying on other results if they are to make it. A draw and both could qualify depending on what happens at other grounds.
Spirit FC, having risen to fourth after their point on Wednesday, travel to St George Stadium. The Saints are safe as far as qualification goes, and guaranteed of a top three finish, but need a win to keep their chances of finishing second alive. A loss for Spirit could still see them through but they won?t want to have to rely on other results. This will be a tough contest for sure.
Granville Rage entertain Northern Tigers at Garside Park. The Rage have slipped up badly in recent weeks but despite this, are still in with a shout. They could still finish as high as fourth with a win here, depending on other results, so the Tigers won?t have it all their own way. Northern Tigers were impressive in their midweek win over Sydney Uni and hold the upper hand in the battle, with St George, for second. A draw here for the Tigers will be enough to hold second spot.
The only match with no real bearing on the final competition is Sydney University v Central Coast. Uni fell out of contention with their loss on Thursday night and so will play out their season along with Central Coast. It may be a good chance to see some free flowing football, and a final chance to see ace goalscorer Christian Soares before he heads back to Brazil next week.
-By Peter Rowney