I have listed the upcoming games for each club in brackets after their team name, and if they are (h)ome or (a)way
Well here we are Round 16 as we slowly get towards the pointy end of the season. With 3 games to go there is still some uncertainty about the make up of the final four, although it would appear as the top 3, barring a major collapse, will make the finals. In my mind that leaves 4 teams looking for that fourth and final spot. 2 big games this week could go along way in determining the final make-up and with 3rd playing 4th and 5th playing 6th, for the loser of those games it could be curtains.
An interesting final 3 games ahead and next week I will look into all the teams, and their final 2 games and try to guess who will make up the finals, but for now onto this week's games.
KARDINYA v DOUBLEVIEW
KARDINYA (Safety Bay h, South Perth a)
B Henley, C Vinci, S Vinci, M Holt
S Novak, D Flintoff, T Leahy, C Booth
T Krajancic, C Stokes, T Cocodis, D Golem
D Rankin, D Comrie, J Rochford, S West INS: T Cocodis OUTS: G White
DOUBLEVIEW (South Perth h, Cambridge a)
J Slavich, S Scott, R Haring, L Thorn
C Slavich, B White, R Bates, A Wetzler
K McIlroy, S Gosstray, S Cerff, G Faulkner
A Williams, R Moyle, B Pearce, T Whitfield INS: No changes OUTS:
9th place Kardinya tackle 2nd place Doubleview under the shade cloth in what must be considered a must win game for Kardinya. At present they are 3.5 points clear of relegation and would no doubt like a little bit of separation going into the final two games. Kardinya would be disappointed with their season thus far, although mathematically can play finals, they will want to finish their last 3 games with a bang and create some headaches for their opposition.
For Doubleview its been steady as she goes, a little up and down in the second half, although missing a couple of games probably didn't help, however they are sitting in second spot and with a tough last 2 games will want to come away with the big points here.
Kardinya always a tough venue to play at for visiting teams, however I think Doubleview too strong and consistent will get the win.
Doubleview 6-2
SAFETY BAY v MOSMAN PARK
SAFETY BAY (Kardinya a, Manning h)
C Owen, S McBriar, P Daynes, A Ballard
R Hall, G Hodges, R Kennedy, J Hanafee
C Carruthers, S Hide, G Ogg, S Foran
G Smith, G Taylor, J Thorington, L Piper INS: L Piper OUTS: D Holt
MOSMAN PARK (Manning a, North Beach h)
T Southern, J Barry, J Adams, W Tan
M Cranswick, C Hoffman, A Gryta, M Robertson
D Marsland, A Daley, S Swanson, R Kershaw
A Southern, T Cranswick, S Anning, M Van Bemmel INS: No changes OUTS:
10th place Safety Bay host 9th place Mosman Park in a game that probably means more to Mossies although Safety Bay are a proud club and will want to finish their season with another win or two.
The second half has seen Safety Bay be much more competitive with a couple of wins and some close losses against quality opposition and playing home they would like their chances in this one.
For Mosman Park, after what was a positive start to their season they have seen their chances all but disappear in a second half where they have struggled to find any consistency. They need to win this one if they are any chance of avoiding demotion, however I think Safety Bay at home after coming off a last home start win, will be too strong on their home deck.
Safety Bay 7-1
CAMBRIDGE v NORTH BEACH
CAMBRIDGE (Osborne Park a, Doubleview h)
C Adams, R Bolton, W Manning, P Potts
B Nairn, D Opie, N Bolton, D Leeson
E Johannes, N Lewis, S Rushforth, A Garlick
C Harris, S Mawdsley, C Wooldridge, A Foster INS: OUTS:
NORTH BEACH (Sorrento h, Mosman Park a)
M Sweeney, M Sear, G Crosthwaite, G Yabuka
C Margin, G Devenish, R Aitken, J Clayton
M Douthie, P Walker, R Kuziela, L Mola
J McGinlay, B Gillingham, S Richards, R Dempsey INS: R Kuziela OUTS: M McConnell
Top of the ladder Cambridge will be looking to maintain that position at home against a tough but struggling North Beach. Cambridge have been top 2 all season and have certainly shown that they are a Premiership contender.
North Beach, also missing a couple of games midway through the second round, and coming off a rare loss at home, will not be daunted about the Cambridge greens, however I think Cambridge at home will be too good and will maintain that top spot.
Cambridge 7-1
SORRENTO v MANNING
SORRENTO (North Beach a, Osborne Park h)
B Eagles, L Martin, I Linford, G Taylor
D Nicholls, A Elmer, P Morgan, S Mortimer
C Lander, R Cunningham, B Lucas, G Murray
R Butler, P Knight, P Flack, M Burton INS: L Martin, I Linford OUTS: D Dunstan, A Walton
MANNING (Mosman Park h, Safety Bay a)
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5th v 6th and both teams have so much to play for in this one. A win for either side will keep them in the mix for finals, whilst for the loser it will almost spell curtains on the season.
Sorrento have been on a downward spiral of late, however knowing the quality of players they have, they will go into this with confidence that they can stop the bleeding and keep themselves in the mix.
Manning for their part have struggled with consistency throughout the season. No doubt they have the quality and proven match winners, they just need to put it all together on the same day and they are capable of anything.
All that being said, this game could go either way, home ground advantage could be the turning point especially if the wind is up and for that reason I will go Sorrento in close one.
Sorrento 6-2
SOUTH PERTH v OSBORNE PARK
SOUTH PERTH (Doubleview a, Kardinya h)
R Bresland, S Walker, M Biglin, B Manton
G Pauling, T Alberti, P Davies, D Angell
D Brown, L Such, T Antonio, J Galipo
J Opie, T Kinnane, J Wardrop, N Griffin INS: B Manton OUTS: O Dawson
OSBORNE PARK (Cambridge h, Sorrento h)
J East, T Weir, R Lawrence, S Pasalich
C Packer, C Biddle, G Caffell, M Rollings
R Brown, K Pickering, E Martin, G King
S Loftus, N Stevens, M Dewson, I Lilburne INS: C Packer OUTS: F diGiuseppe
Another huge game with 3rd place South Perth taking on 4th place Osborne Park.
For South Perth a win here and keeps their chances of top 2 alive. Sitting 11.5 points clear of 5th, barring major collapse they will play finals and I am sure they will be looking for that double chance come the end of the season.
4th place Osborne Park have perhaps been the form side in the second half and have put themselves in this position with a great winning run. However only 4.5 points separates them and 6th place Manning so winning is crucial to their chances.
As we all know playing South Perth on their deck are a tough assignment and I think South Perth will get over the line in this one in what could be a close game.
