Round 12 Preview – PS4 NPL NSW Women’s
It’s really hotting up in the PlayStation4 NSW NPL Women’s competition with only three points between third to eighth place.
North West Sydney Koalas V Emerging Jets
At ELS Hall Park, it will be the second placed North West Sydney Koalas to take on bottom placed Emerging Jets.
The Koalas got another week off due to torrential rain on Sunday and meant they had further time to prepare for the Jets.
That’s two games in hand for the Koalas meaning they will be busy in the close season and three points here would be fantastic as they continue their battle for the Premiership.
The Jets have been battling hard and have had significant improvements over recent weeks.
The Koalas snuck past the last time they met with a close 2-1 victory, a tight match will be on the cards this time too.
Blacktown Spartans V Illawarra Stingrays
It’s seventh verse third at Blacktown Football Park as the Blacktown Spartans host the Illawarra Stingrays.
It was a first win in five for the Spartans on Sunday and Paul Costantini would’ve been a relieved man.
With some experienced personnel set to return to Blacktown in the coming rounds, the Spartans will be hoping to make a hard run in to the finals.
Two straight losses along with two wash outs means the Stingrays aren’t the happiest campers at the moment.
They’ve ever slightly dropped off the pace of the leading two but they are by no means out of the title race.
Defeat here could mean otherwise though.
It was an explosive 15-minute period the last time these two clashed as the scores were locked at 2-2.
Marconi Stallions V Macarthur Rams
At Marconi Stadium, the sixth placed Marconi Stallions face the fifth placed Macarthur Rams.
Stephen Neligan’s side are one of the in form teams of the competition and are flying toward finals football, peaking at the right time.
A win here will inch them ever closer to fourth place and with the likes of Helen Petinos in the team, anything is possible.
The Rams gave a fantastic account of themselves in dreadful conditions on Sunday afternoon.
Captain Renee Rollason will lead her team out as they look to move back into the top four where they have been for most of the season.
It was victory for the Rams in round three but only by the slightest margin, 2-1, making this one too close to call.
North Shore Mariners V Football NSW Institute
Northbridge Oval will see the fourth placed North Shore Mariners host the ninth placed Football NSW Institute.
After some poor form, two straight wins are exactly what the doctor ordered for the Mariners.
The wins have seen them jump into fourth place on the ladder and points are imperative as they look to hold onto their position.
Only one win in 11 games for the Institute but don’t count them out.
They love to score and it could be something that causes the Mariners some problems on Sunday.
Goals were the tale of the tape the first time these met as the three points went the way of the Mariners in a seven goal thriller, winning 4-3.
Manly United V Sydney University
Cromer Park will see the clash between a resurgent, eighth placed Manly united and first placed Sydney Uni.
After a ‘slow’ start to the season, United was constantly threatening to explode and pick up some form.
Five games on, they now see themselves only three points out of finals football.
They were unlucky last week against the Rams but with such danger players as Remy Siemsen, Sarah Yatim and Ally Green to name a few, Uni will need to be aware.
Heather Garriock wasn’t happy on Sunday afternoon as her team’s game was washed out just hours before kick off.
They still sit in first place on the ladder as a Premiership looms for them.
They have quality all over the park and play some fantastic football making them one of the best in the competition.
The points went the way of Uni when they met in round three, coming away with a 2-0 victory.
-By Nikola Pozder
