The Weekly Wash-Up
The countdown is now on with just a handful of games remaining across the divisions. Although the unexpected storms that hurried through the zone late Saturday afternoon wreaked havoc on a number of games, forcing a handful of postponements as well as some games to be abandoned which had already gotten underway. But here are five things that captured our attention over the last week from the games that did reach conclusion… #1:: Another Lions FC Cup Exit To Capital League 1 Opposition
We begin by heading back to last Tuesday where Capital League 1 leaders Taringa Rovers caused a major upset by dumping Lions FC out of the Pig ’N’ Whistle Canale Cup. A Sam West brace helping Rovers to a 2-1 success that progresses the Jack Speare Park side to a local derby away at UQFC in RD5. Lions will undoubtedly be hugely disappointed at being knocked out of the season’s two cup competitions (Westfield FFA Cup and Pig ’N’ Whsitle Canale Cup) by Capital League 1 opposition, in their final season in Football Brisbane competitions before heading off to the PlayStation4 NPL next year.
#2:: Wolves FC March On
Wolves FC’s climb up the table has come at just the right time with Mark Dykman’s side striding into the top four following a surprise 2-1 win away at Taringa Rovers at the weekend. Perhaps Rovers were still celebrating their Pig ’N’ Whsitle Canale Cup win over Flight Centre Premier League high flyers Lions FC, as this was only their second defeat of the season. The Capital League 1 title race remains between Taringa and North Pine however, with the premiership really being in Rovers hands now. But the remaining finals places are far from decided with Acacia Ridge (3rd on 31pts), Wolves FC (4th on 29pts) and Brisbane Knights (5th on 29pts) and only 2 goals separating Wolves and Knights. We’ll likely know more after next weekend when Wolves FC host Brisbane Knights in RD19 on a weekend that also sees the top two come head to head in what could all but seal the title for Rovers.
#3:: Knights Revival Continues
From a side that had lost six of it’s seven games from the start of April to the start of June, with just one draw in that run; to a side that’s now unbeaten in it’s last four outings, including three wins from that run, Ipswich Knights have undoubtedly turned a corner. Perhaps what is most notable is they have had a major influence on the fortunes of the sides above them who are in the hunt for the premiership and finals spots. Their latest success condemning Eastern Suburbs to another defeat, who’s recent run now stretches to four games without a win and their finals hopes now in the balance. It is of course still a close race for the title and the top four placings.
The title now looks to be Rochedale’s to lose although Lions FC have moved into second after the recent round of games. Rovers sit 4pts ahead of Lions with four games remaining. However, no side in the last ten seasons has won the league after lost six games or more, so it would take something special this season for Lions to claim the title with them having lost six times this year. Five losses are a possible though with Lions having claimed the 2016 Premiership with five defeats that season.
The only other side perhaps capable of achieving that this season is Peninsula Power who sit 5pts behind Rovers and with Power facing Rochedale next weekend, it could well prove to be the crunch match of the season. A win for Rovers would surely see them placing fingers from both hands on the premiership trophy. A Peninsula victory would throw the title race wide open for the remaining three rounds.
#4:: Back To Back Defeats For Caboolture
It’s fair to say we’ve given a bit of focus to Capital League 3 in our Weekly Wash-Up’s of late, but it’s with good reason - it keeps throwing up results we simply can’t ignore and it’s looking as though Tigers really are the greater predators to Snakes with Caboolture suffering their first back to back losses since August 2015, after Slack Creek Tigers followed up Tarragindi Tigers defeat of the Snakes. In a to and fro encounter that saw the Capital League 3 title chasers leading at the break, then Creek lead with just over ten minutes remaining, it looked as though James Fairgrieve’s 79th minute equaliser would see both sides settle for a point. But the Tigers had other ideas with Stefano Giannini coming off the bench to grab his side a late winner and throw the Capital League 3 premiership back into the hands of St George Willawong. Perhaps more alarmingly is that Caboolture have failed to win in their last three outings, a run they’ve not experienced since April of 2015 in the Sunshine Coast Premier League where they lost three on the trot in a four match winless streak that included a draw. St George Willawong’s comfortable win at Bardon Latrobe means they hold an 8pt advantage over Caboolture although they’ve played one game more. AC Carina and Westside Grovely take up the other top four places and could overhaul Caboolture should their recent poor run continue.
#5:: North Brisbane On Track For Capital League 4 Title
Our final port of call sees us head to Capital League 4 where title race now looks to be between North Brisbane and Samford Rangers. It’s quite a feat for a side that only formed in 2015, but North Brisbane look set to claim their first promotion as well as looking favourites to take out the premiership. A 5-0 success over bottom side Logan Village at the weekend moved them to the top of the table after Samford’s game away to Logan Metro fell foul of the weather, and with Samford having the bye next weekend, the Aces have an opportunity to open up a 5pt gap at the top of the table.
The title though, could well come down to when the two sides meet in RD17 on the 12th August with Bethania Rams the only other side still within reach of the premiership.
