Womens State League Round 16 Preview
The Womens State League is rapidly heading into the final stretch of the season and after a Round 15 that produced 27 goals with a majority coming from St George FC.
We move onto Round 16 including a top of the table clash between Bankstown City and Nepean, so here is your preview for the upcoming round.
Match of the Round
Bankstown City FC vs Nepean FC
To kick off our preview, we have the top of the table clash, with ladder leaders Bankstown City FC hosting Nepean. The hosts will be stung into action after they recorded consecutive defeats after losing 2-1 to Southern Districts.
Nepean meanwhile, are riding high after a 3-0 rout against Mount Druitt meaning they have accrued 15 out of possible 15 points in the last five weeks. The result meant they drew level with City on 32 points with six weeks left in the regular season.
This means we have a cracking finish on our hands for first position and with the free scoring Bankstown netting 74 times – Jensen Park will be the venue to be at this coming weekend for the match of the round.
Game Information: Sunday 3pm, Jensen Park, Clapton Round, Sefton
Mount Druitt Town Rangers FC vs APIA Leichhardt Tigers
Next is the third placed Mount Druitt Town Rangers hosting the seventh placed APIA Leichhardt Tigers side, as both are coming off losses in Round 15.
Mount Druitt who are used to dominating their matches, will feel much more comfortable against APIA than they did against Nepean last week. The Western Sydney side will be eyeing a substantial win to solidify their place in the upcoming finals series.
APIA who have improved over the last few weeks before crashing last week against the Ravens, will look to record a shock over their much fancied opponents to provide more breathing space between themselves and the Parramatta Ladyhawks.
Game Information: Sunday 1pm, Popondetta Park, Emerton
Parramatta Ladyhawks vs Southern Districts Emeralds
Southern Districts fresh from recording a huge upset over the ladder leaders Bankstown City FC, will be looking to continue their form with an easy afternoon against competition cellar dwellers, Parramatta.
The ladies from the South will be hoping to continue the roll started against Bankstown, to help keep their faint finals chances alive, as they remain eleven points adrift from fourth place. The Emeralds for and against will get a workout against Parramatta which will be a bonus coming into the latter rounds.
For Parramatta, after the 18-0 drubbing from St George FC, it will be about pride and not letting APIA get too far away from them at the bottom of the Women’s State League ladder.
Game Information: Sunday 27th July, Melita Stadium, Everley Road, South Granville
Gladesville Ravens vs St George FC
Our last clash of Round 16 is between the fourth and fifth placed sides, both big winners last weekend against lowly opposition. It will be crucial to the final makeup of the semi-final line-up in a few weeks.
Gladesville have strung together some impressive results in the last few weeks, with four points out of six leaving the Ravens in fifth, on the outside looking in, to the finals positions. A win this weekend against St George closes the gap and leaves an exciting last few weeks of the competition.
St George FC sit in fourth presiding over the last finals position with 28 points, only two behind Mount Druitt. If the Southern Sydney side manage to knock over Gladesville and Mount Druitt don’t record maximum points, they could leap into third thanks to a greater goal difference.
Game Information: Sunday 27th July, Peel Park, Morrison Road, Granville
This leaves us with several intriguing clashes to play out over Round 16 of the Women’s State League. Good luck to everyone and let’s hope for a lot of goals.
-By Justin Davies
