The Weekly Wash-Up
We've seen further titles claimed and others swing in the balance after the penultimate round played out at the weekend.
Here's five things of note from the latest round as we move towards the final weekend of the regular season. #1:: Knights At It Again
Last week’s Pig ’N’ Whistle Canale Cup Quarter Final saw yet another ‘Cupset’ as giant killers Brisbane Knights struck again to claim their fourth Flight Centre Premier League scalp of the year with a convincing 4-1 away win over Holland Park Hawks, with the contest all but ended in the first half where Knights held a 3-0 lead. That success saw them drawn at home to Flight Centre Premier League leaders Rochedale Rovers in the semi-final to be played this coming Tuesday night. Rovers needed a penalty shoot-out win over Taringa Rovers to reach the semi-final but Trainga will consider themselves unfortunate not to have seen off the premier league side in normal time.
Highlights from the Quarter Final between Taringa and Rochedale:
Can Knights make it to the final??? It will of course be a tough ask and surprisingly, being at home may not favour them with all of their ‘cupsets’ achieved on the road. Rovers though will have one eye focused on their final Flight Centre Premier game next weekend whilst Knights, although in third spot in Capital League 1, are not yet assured of a finals berth just yet.
#2:: Flight Centre Premier League Heads To Final Day Decider
It was always on the cards with the season having been the closest run race for many years and this year we will see three sides heading into the final round of the season in contention for the Flight Centre Premier League title. Rochedale Rovers are in the box seat. They face an out of form Mitchelton on the last day and with their goal difference superior to that of second placed Peninsula Power - a draw would most likely be sufficient in seeing them over the line. Peninsula Power head to Whites Hill Reserve to face Holland Park Hawks. Their current form is scintillating and you wouldn’t put it past them pushing all the way for goals too in order to keep the pressure on Rovers should they falter. Lions FC sit in third spot and will be hoping both the top two slip up. Their goal difference is far superior to both Rovers and Power, especially after their 6-1 thumping of Grange Thistle at the weekend. Lions host Logan Lightning final day and can do a Steven Bradbury if Rovers and Power trip up to retain the title they won in 2016. But that’s not the only battle to watch for - the elusive fourth spot is up for grabs with five sides vying for post season action. Mitchelton currently hold that spot but suffered a shock loss to bottom side Capalaba at the weekend which could have seen them secure a finals spot had they won.
Early season leaders Eastern Suburbs are just one point behind and Holland Park Hawks a further point behind them, with Souths United and Albany Creek still mathematically with a chance. So who’s the favourite to make it to the finals series??? Holland Park are surely the least likely to make it, especially with Peninsula Power their opponents in the final round. The Whites Hill pitch though could play it’s part and wont suit a Power side used to playing on a plush carpet like surface.
Souths United also look unlikely to make up the ground needed to make the four and who face Albany Creek whose own chances rely heavily on the teams above them all losing by large margins and they beating Souths convincingly. Mitchelton on recent form, look like a side who’s season is over already and facing the league leaders away looks a daunting prospect, but you never can tell with the Mustangs who manage to lift for the bigger games. That leaves Easts who face Grange Thistle for their final game of the season at Heath Park and are perhaps the favourites to see post season action.
#3:: Mitchelton Marching Towards Perfect League Record
Mitchelton's 2-0 win over Capalaba on Sunday in the Mt Franklin Women’s Premier League sees them host Logan Lightning in the final round and one win away from a perfect 100% league record in 2017. We recently touched on other sides throughout all the competitions who are also on course for a 100% season and said we’d check back in on their progress and all of them are close to achieving that feat. Here are the clubs looking to emulate Mitchelton’s ladies… Capalaba - Mt Franklin Women’s Premier League Reserves Bethania Rams - Women’s City League 5 Silver Logan Lightning - McDonalds U16 Div 4 The Gap - McDonalds U15 Div 5 Silver Brighton Bulldogs - McDonalds U12 Div 6 North
#4:: Women’s Capital League Decider
The Women’s Capital League will see the top two clash this coming weekend with league leaders North Pine hosting UQFC. Both sides have catch-up games to still be played but should North Pine take all three points from next weekend's clash, they will be crowned premiers with the Students unable to catch them. It should be a tight encounter with them having faced each other twice already this season and sharing a win apiece in the eight team competition.
#5:: Premierships Sealed And Almost Delivered
Centenary Stormers bounced back in style in 2017 following their relegation from Capital League 1 in 2016, to seal the Capital League 2 title on Friday night with a hard fought 3-2 win away at Annerley. Jason Le’s 82nd minute strike proving decisive enough to claim all three points and put them out of reach of second placed Virginia United.
Highlights from Friday night's clash:
St George Willawong sealed the Capital League 3 Premiership with a 2-0 win over Newmarket on Sunday night, to add to their Capital League 4 title of 2016. It must be noted though, that it’s only their second season in Football Brisbane competition and signals an impressive run with the club’s success pinned to how tight knit they are both on and off the field. That will hold them in good stead when they head to the upper echelons for the first time since joining the Football Brisbane zone. In Capital League 4, Samford Rangers took a firm grip on the title when they defeated, and leap frogged league leaders North Brisbane on Saturday evening in front of a vocal home crowd. With a game in hand over the Aces, the title is Samford’s to throw away as both sides head into next weekend’s games against bottom three opposition, which will be the final league game for North Brisbane. A win for Samford at Logan Village will confirm them as Champions.
