With only the one game (Oak Flats Falcons v Corrimal Rangers) played in Round 19 due to the weather, it now means that it has now been 3 or 4 weeks since some clubs played a game of football. This has resulted in a lot of teams having to play four or five games during the next two weeks before the curtain falls on the regular season.

 

Saturday 13th August

Balgownie Rangers (6th - 22pts - 5 games) v Bellambi (12th - 7pts - 5 games) @ Judy Masters Oval

Balgownie and Bellambi are two of the teams that haven't played for a month so they will be desperate for the weather to stay fine so that they can shake off the cobwebs.

The three points on offer here are very important for contrasting reasons. From the Rangers  point of view a win in this one coupled with a good result in their catch up games could see the home side reignite their semi's chances.

As far as the Rosella's are concerned every game is like a Cup Final for them with relegation worries a real issue for the visitors. Coach Greg Smart will be well aware of the situation and will take some heart from the fact that his side played out a nil-nil draw with Balgownie earlier in the season but nothing less than three points will do on this occasion.

Tip: Balgownie

 

Wests Illawarra (11th - 13pts - 4 games) v Helensburgh Thistle (7th - 21pts - 4 games) @ Unanderra Oval

Wests Illawarra are still fighting for their lives at the wrong end of the table especially on the back of another loss (1-2) to University FC in a catch up game on Tuesday night.

After such a good showing in the Pre-Season Cup(beaten in the Final) the home side have not been able to carry that form into the season proper and have had a wretched run of late with not one single point collected in the second half of the season.

Helensburgh are just about out of the finals race and are probably playing for pride with the visit to Unanderra on Saturday. The Burgh have been very inconsistent this season and have struggled with not being able to put two performances together back to back.

This trip south will not be easy especially with the Home side being able to take heart from their first round encounter which resulted in a 1-0 victory to Wests up at the Burgh.

Tip: Helensburgh Thistle

 

Fernhill (3rd - 34pts - 6 games) v Oak Flats Falcons (9th - 20pts - 3 games) @ Ray Robinson Field

Fernhill are still fighting for the runners up spot after they shared the spoils with Warilla Wanderers in a catch up game last time out. The Foxes have been consistent all season and should be too strong in this one for the Falcons. Fernhill are very strong defensively and have scored their fair share of goals this term which augers well for them in the run home.

Oak Flats put in a good performance against Corrimal last weeknd before going down 3-1 and shows that they will not 'lie down' for any team with plenty of pride on the line given that they are now out of the finals race.

The points were shared (1-1) in Round 9 but Fernhill have too much to play for and you see them taking maximum points this time around.

Tip: Fernhill

 

Kiama Quarriers (5th - 28pts - 4 games) v Berkeley Sports (8th - 24pts - 4 games) @ Kiama Leisure Centre

Kiama would be really pleased with how their season has gone and even though they have to play the top two sides in the run home they should be good enough to pick up enough points to ensure their participation in the 'Final Series' games.

The Quarriers form has been quite good coming into this fixture, with the Home side having a resounding three goals to nil victory over fellow finals contenders, Thirroul last time out.

On the other hand, Berkeley, could still smarting from a last minute loss to Oak Flats in Round 18, will have Coach Paul Mears looking to snatch the three points on offer and wins in their catch up games could put them right in the mix for a spot in the end of season games.

Berkeley did manage a close one nil victory over Kiama in Round 9 so a similar result here is not out of the question which would really throw a cat amongst the pigeons in two weeks time.

Both Coaches, James Spence and Mears shouldn't have any trouble revving their charges up for what essentially is a 'six pointer' in this clash.

Tip: Kiama Quarriers

 

Warilla Wanderers (2nd - 37pts - 6 games) v University FC (10th - 19pts - 4 games) @ King Mickey Park

Even though they have finished a long way off the pace in terms of promotion, Warilla have had quite a decent season too-date and will be looking to this game with a bit of a revenge factor as it was probably the corresponding fixture won by UOW (2-1) way back in Round Nine which ended the Wanderers hopes of a return to the top flight.

The visitors should come into this fixture with some renewed vigour after beating Wests Illawarra in a catch up game on Tuesday night bringing to an end some indifferent form over the last couple of months which coincided with the Uni Holidays.

Having said that, Uni will find it difficult to complete the double over the home side with Warilla keen to finish the season on a high note and in the process shore up the runners-up spot in Season 2016.

Tip: Warilla Wanderers

 

Sunday 14th August

Corrimal Rangers (1st - 55pts - 3 games) v Thirroul FC (4th - 28pts - 4 games) @ Memorial Park

Sunday will be a day of Celebration at Memorial Park for the famous Corrimal Rangers who only two weeks ago celebrated their 125th Birthday as one of Australia's oldest football clubs.

Last Saturday, the Rangers, in their defeat of Oak Flats clinched the League Title & with it the right to apply for promotion to the IPL in 2017 and on Sunday will be presented with the League Champion's trophy at the conclusion of the game versus Thirroul. Congratulations to everyone connected to Corrimal Rangers on a magnificent 'double' achievement!

Whilst Thirroul appear to have a finals spot within their grasp with four games to play, they are in a bit of late season slumber having picked up just the one point from their last two games.
The Thunder will need to be at the top of their game when they make the short trip to Memorial Park if they are to get anything from this one but motivation shouldn't be an issue with Coach Garth Bowley playing the card of an opportunity to end Corrimal's fantastic unbeaten run that took them to the title.

Tip: Corrimal Rangers

 

Footnote:

A look at the history books tells me that the Woonona Sharkies were the last team to go through a season undefeated when they didn't drop a single point in their stand out promotion season of 2008.

 

By David Naylor

Photo courtesy of Pedro Garcia