With the Bankstown Berries having conceded the leadership last weekend, the eyes now turn towards Northern Tigers, to see if the Kuringai District representatives can keep the top mantle.
It has been a few years since the Tigers last held number one position, but expect them to make sure it lasts longer than six days.
They travel to Arlington Oval on Saturday to face a Dulwich Hill who will have their own thoughts about how to overcome the Tigers. Where to start is anyone’s guess. Max Glanville has shown some excellent early season form, Paul Davies has returned to the field this season with a vengeance, Adam Biddle has recovered from injury recently to knock in a couple, and it seems like Tom Spencer has never left. Plus the solid defence has conceded only three in five games. Dully’s Paul Carter will certainly earn his keep here if Dulwich Hill come away with some points.
Mounties Wanderers v Bankstown Berries will have its own intrigue. How the Berries recover from last week’s shock loss will be interesting. A trip to Cook Park, Mount Pritchard won’t be easy with the Mounties wanting to return to winning ways quickly themselves. Dimitri Zakilas, only available for forty five minutes last game should make a difference, though the Berries will have to continue for some time yet without the experienced Liam McKenna at the back, with four weeks suspension still to serve.
Hills Brumbies may fancy their chances against Fraser Park. The Brumbies were to play Dulwich Hill on Tuesday before that game was postponed, but perhaps that was for the better considering their herculean effort expended at the Crest. They will gain immeasurable confidence with that win, and it may well be the catalyst for a change in fortune. Fraser Park were out of action last weekend and while fresh, will need to start hard against the Brumbies.
The other Saturday night game sees Sydney University take on Macarthur Rams at Hensley Field. Uni put up a show against the Tigers last week before succumbing 3-0, but they were surprisingly beaten 4-3 by UNSW in the Waratah Cup on Anzac Day. While some squad players were given game time in the Cup, expect Sydney Uni to be back to the first eleven on Saturday. Against the Rams, they will need to be at full strength as Macarthur are one of only two clubs, along with the Tigers, to remain unbeaten so far.
Two games on Sunday have Bankstown Lions travelling to Christie Park to meet Spirit FC and St George at Garside Park to meet Granville Rage. Spirit have won their last two now and sit in third, while the Lions have surprisingly won only the one so far. But it is early days still and expect the Lions to be on the improve.
It is twelfth v ninth at Garside, somewhat surprising for two of last season’s semi finalists. For the Saints, they remain the only club so far not to have gained a win but that shouldn’t be a statistic that will last too long. Whether that changes this week, we can only wait and see. The Rage are not having the best of times at the moment, and went out of the Cup on Tuesday, after losing 4-3 to Balmain.
-By Peter Rowney
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