Capital Leagues Weekly Preview
The finishing post is in sight for the season and there are a number of crucial games this weekend affecting Premierships and finals’ positions. Capital League 1 – North Pine can secure 2nd with a win. Still a scrap going on for the last two finals positions but three into two won’t go with The Gap now in the race. Capital League 2 – Centenary Stormers can seal the Premiership with a win. The top four are settled barring some miraculous results with only final positions on the table to be confirmed. Capital League 3 – St George Willawong can claim the Premiership with a win. Still a scrap going on for the last two finals positions but the current occupants should hold on. Capital League 4 – 2nd v 1st at Samford Parklands - a North Brisbane win will give them a firm grip on the Premiership trophy. The top four is settled (apart from final positions).
CAPITAL LEAGUE 1
Match of the Round - The Gap v Brisbane Knights 5th v 4th. The Gap beat Premiers Taringa Rovers on the weekend and then backed up with a win over Mt Gravatt on Wednesday night. Knights came back from two down at the half to draw with Bayside Utd. The Gators have won their past four and because of that run, now have a chance of finishing in the top four if they win this one. The Knights have fallen away a little towards the season’s end and must win here to stay in the four. I said last week that The Gap would need a miracle to make the four but that looks more and more likely. Gators to win as I suspect the Knights are focussed on continuing their cup exploits. Wolves FC v Southside Eagles Wolves had a refresher weekend while Southside Eagles drew 2-2 with UQFC. Wolves can still finish 2nd if North Pine don’t win either of their last two matches, but 3rd looks most likely meaning a home semi final. Then again, they could still miss the finals, if results go against them. Eagles, mathematically, can finish fourth but that won’t happen. It was a 2-2 draw in the first round but, at home and with a lot to play for, Wolves are the favourites. UQFC v Acacia Ridge UQFC drew with Southside Eagles which has realistically ended any chance of them playing in the post season. Acacia Ridge had a breather. Ridge need a win to keep them in the finals’ picture but they have gone off the boil in the last few weeks, losing four of their last five matches when they were seemingly assured of a finals’ spot, with even a chance at 2nd, prior to that. They have now dropped to 6th (with a game in hand). I don’t think Ridge can recover and I will predict a draw here. North Pine v North Star Both northerners had a free weekend. Pine will be looking to sew up 2nd spot on the ladder and the double chance in the finals. Star currently sit 10th and will be looking to secure points to get them away from Mt Gravatt in 11th. The Gorillas will be fired up to do the job which will keep North Star looking over their shoulder at Mt Gravatt. Taringa Rovers v Mt Gravatt Rovers went down 1-0 to The Gap but, having secured the Premiership the previous weekend, rested some players ahead of their midweek Pig ‘n’ Whistle Canale Cup match against Rochedale Rovers. Mt Gravatt lost to The Gap on Wednesday night and need points to avoid finishing in the bottom two. Taringa to win ahead of Premiership trophy presentation. Bayside Utd v Moggill Bayside ended up all even at home to Brisbane Knights, giving up a two goal lead. Moggill were idle. Neither side has much to play for. Bayside will want to finish as high as possible to ensure Premier League football in 2018. Moggill are still desperately looking for that first point of the season. I’ll give it another shot for Moggill and tip a draw.
CAPITAL LEAGUE 2
Match of the Round – Annerley v Centenary Stormers 4th v 1st. Annerley beat Pine Hills on the weekend. Centenary dropped points in a 0-0 draw with Western Spirit last Thursday night, but the destination of the title is still in their own hands. Annerley still need one point to confirm 4th place. A win to Centenary and the Premiership is theirs. First round was 4-3 to Centenary with an added time own goal getting the Stormers home. The Stormers only dropped points have been away from home and I have a feeling Annerley will get the one point they need, leaving the title still up for grabs if Virginia beat Spirit. Western Spirit v Virginia Utd Western Spirit’s 0-0 draw with Centenary has all but ended their chances of making the finals. Virginia had a weekend off. They are still in the Premiership hunt but have to rely on Centenary not winning either of their last two matches which seems unlikely, given they meet Oxley in the last fixture. Virginia have been off the boil, losing their last two matches and another loss could jeopardise their hold on 2nd position with a meeting against Ipswich City in the final fixture. Virginia will get back into the groove here and win this one. Ipswich City v Toowong Ipswich City rested themselves over the weekend while Toowong beat Pine Hills on Wednesday night. The Bulls are still in with a shot at 2nd and possible promotion if they win, as they have a match in hand and play Virginia next week. Toowong have been in good form in the 2nd round and are on a four match winning run and have 5th in their grasp. The Bulls are the leading goal scorers and that will see them home. Oxley Utd v Pine Hills Oxley didn’t play. Pine Hills had two midweek games – losing 2-0 to Annerley last week and 1-0 to Toowong this week. This match has a little something riding on it. If Oxley win that means they will finish 9th (the best they can do). If Pine Hills win, they will only be two points behind Oxley with one game in hand. Oxley to get up at home. Brisbane Phoenix v Park Ridge A match with very little riding on it. Phoenix can’t make the finals. Park Ridge could avoid the wooden spoon with two wins in the last two matches and Pine Rivers losing their last two - unlikely. Phoenix to win. Pine Rivers Utd v New Farm Utd A match with very little riding on it. Pine Rivers can avoid the wooden spoon with a point in either of their last two matches and the best they can finish is 11th. New Farm can’t make the finals. New Farm to win.
CAPITAL LEAGUE 3
Match of the Weekend - Westside v Caboolture 3rd v 2nd. Westside drew with Redcliffe PCYC when a win was really required. Caboolture gained revenge on Tarragindi and, in the process, almost ensured they would finish 2nd at worst. Westside need a win to stay 3rd (assuming Carina beat Jimboomba). They are unbeaten in ten matches, but there were four draws in that run. Caboolture need a win to put pressure on St George. The Snakes won 5-1 in the first round match but, with plenty to play for, I can’t see Westside allowing a loss of that margin again. In fact they may even eke out a draw. St George Willawong v Newmarket St George had a weekend’s rest in preparation for the run in. Newmarket’s loss to Narangba ended their finals’ hopes (although technically not mathematically). For St George the equation is simple, win and the Premiership is theirs. They may not even have that pressure should Caboolture falter on Saturday night. There is too much at stake for the Saints and they will win. Clairvaux v Bardon Latrobe Clairvaux lost in mid-week to Redcliffe PCYC while Bardon had a break from play. Clairvaux are still not safe from the bottom two so will be looking for points. Bardon are still an outside chance of reaching the finals but a win is a must if that is to happen. Have a feeling a draw might be the result here. AC Carina v Jimboomba Utd Both teams had a free weekend. Carina have slipped to 4th but only a point behind Westside in 3rd, plus they have a game in hand. Jimboomba can’t escape the wooden spoon but will want to end the season on a positive note. Have to go with Carina to win. Narangba Utd v Tarragindi Tigers Narangba had a good win over Newmarket to maintain their late season surge. Tarragindi couldn’t repeat their win over Caboolture. This is an important match at the other end of the table considering the reshaping of the Leagues in 2018. Narangba have been in good form and will continue that with a win in this one. Redcliffe PCYC v Slacks Creek Redcliffe gathered four points over the last week but are out of the finals. Slacks Creek didn’t have a match. The Tigers need to get something to avoid being dragged into the bottom two which is still a possibility. Redcliffe should shade it.
CAPITAL LEAGUE 4
Match of the Weekend - Samford Rangers v North Brisbane 2nd v 1st. This it. The big one. The loser can just about go home. The winner can reach out towards the Premiership trophy. A draw? Then it is all in Samford’s hands by winning their last two matches. The Aces did the business over Logan Village although the 2-0 win was less than convincing. Still they got the three points and that was all that was required. Rangers travelled to Bethania and won 3-0 to set up this encounter as a title decider (well almost!). Big night at Samford Parklands and the FBTV cameras will be there. For me, Rangers have the goods to win. The Lakes v Kangaroo Point Rovers The Lakes battled hard to go down 2-1 to Springfield Utd. KPR had a weekend off. The Lakers are still in a battle at the bottom to avoid the wooden spoon. Rovers are safely in the top four and will want to strengthen their hold on 3rd place and a home final (2nd is not out of the question at this stage either). It should be a comfortable win for KPR. Bethania Rams v Logan Village Bethania’s title hopes were dashed with the loss to Samford Rangers but they are secure in the top four. Logan Village put up a fight against leaders North Brisbane. The Falcons will want to avoid finishing last while the Rams can still finish 3rd. Bethania will be too strong and keep the points at Opperman Park. Mooroondu v Springfield Utd Mooroondu had a rest while Springfield travelled to North Lakes and came home with the points. Mooroondu are also in the wooden spoon race and may see this as a chance to get a point. Springfield have lost close matches to the top teams in recent weeks before that win, so should have enough in them to get the win even on a cold Friday evening.
MIDWEEK NEXT WEEK
Capital League 2 – Tuesday 15 Aug - Annerley v Brisbane Phoenix This could mean quite a lot or not so much depending on the weekend’s results. If Annerley get the point they need on Friday night, that will secure 4th. Then they can aim higher to finish 3rd and get a home final. If they lose, then this match could have much greater importance (again depending on other results). The Nix could still finish 5th and that will be their aim. Annerley’s incentive is greater and that should be enough. Capital League 3 – Tuesday 15 Aug – Tarragindi Tigers v AC Carina Tarragindi are still in the dogfight at the wrong end of the table to avoid being in the bottom two. The weekend’s match may change that picture or make it worse. AC Carina are in the stoush for finals’ positioning but that may be less of a stress after Saturday’s match. Then it would become a battle for 3rd with Westside. With a game I hand Carina should finish 3rd and a win here would probably confirm that.
