Women?s Super League Round 1 Finals Series Preview
Split over two days, supporters will get the chance to take in both First Grade matches, as well as junior and reserve grades.
Facing off in a mouthwatering Major Semi Final will be APIA Leichardt Tigers and Gladesville Ravens. The two sides spent the majority of the season locked in a fierce battle for top spot. APIA?s strong finish coupled with a few late season slip-ups from the Ravens saw the Tigers take the preliminary spoils.
Head to head, however, it?s 2-0 to Gladesville and they?ll be confident they can make it three from three and book their place in the Grand Final. With the final round of the season split over two weeks, both coaches had the opportunity to do some covert scouting work that should make the tactical battle particularly interesting.
Gladesville?s habitual dominance of possession and patient build-up play has in previous meetings been in contrast with the more direct style of APIA. However, in recent weeks the Tigers look to have tweaked the system, with their strikers coming into midfield more often to help control possession. Nevertheless, Gladesville?s task remains the same ? stop the supply to APIA?s lethal frontline. They are the only team to have consistently done so this season and the Minor Premiers will be hungry for revenge. This is shaping as the match of the season.
Major Semi Finals ? Sunday 7th August at Wilson Park, Sydney Olympic Park
Grade 12 ? 8:30am
Northbridge FC vs Northern Tigers
Grade 14 ? 9:30am
Northbridge FC v Northern Tigers
Grade 16 ? 11:00am
Northern Tigers v Parramatta Lady Hawks
Reserve Grade ? 12:30pm
Gladesville Ravens v APIA Leichhardt Tigers
1st Grade ? 2:30pm
APIA Leichardt vs Gladesville Ravens
On Saturday, Parramatta Lady Hawks and Eastern UNSW Lions play off in the Minor Semi Final at Melita Stadium.
The winner of this game will go on to face the loser of the Major Semi Final for a place in the 2011 Grand Final.
Both sides have had strong seasons and could realistically go all the way to the Grand Final. On their day they have the ability to beat any Super League team. Certainly Lady Hawks have the momentum, having finished the season like a steam train. They have lost just one game since Round 7, that being in a closely-fought encounter with the seemingly-unstoppable APIA Leichardt. They are widely considered the dark horse in this finals race and, as coach Edd Terry so astutely put forward, ?there?s only three wins to go.?
Eastern UNSW Lions saw off a late-season Northbridge challenge to take fourth spot, one that they otherwise comfortably held for the majority of the season. Their formline (W-D-L-L-D) is a little less flattering than Lady Hawks?, though over the whole season they have lost just three games. With the goals drying up over the last few rounds the Lions can rely on one of the competition?s most steadfast defences, leaking just 11 goal in 18 games and bettered only by second-placed Gladesville Ravens.
If Parramatta fail to unlock the Lions defence, extra time is definitely on the cards. Either way, the top two sides will watch this intriguing matchup very closely.
Minor Semi Finals ? Saturday 6th August at Melita Stadium, South Granville
Grade 12 ? 9:00am
St George FC v Eastern UNSW Lions
Grade 14 ? 10:20am
Gladesville Ravens v Parramatta Lady Hawks
Grade 16 ? 11:45am
Northbridge FC v Gladesville Ravens
Reserve Grade ? 1:30pm
Parramatta Lady Hawks v Eastern UNSW Lions
1st Grade ? 4:00pm
Parramatta Lady Hawks v Eastern UNSW Lions
-By Ryan Cropp ? twitter: @ryancropp
