Rd 14 preview
This round appears to be the round of the season with so many teams playing an opponent in a similar position.
With only 2 wins seperating 3rd and 7th in the big 8, and only 2 matches left before crossover matches end, their will be no time to rest for these teams. You slip up, and you could be looking over the shoulder nervously hoping that another team below you doesn't win. This where newly promoted rockers (currently 8th) will be hoping they can pounce on other teams failing. At the top you have the bears and wombats. Bears are 1 win away from safety but will be hoping to keep on winning to secure hca for the playoffs, and the wombats are 2.5 wins away from safety and can not wait for the bears to slip up.
On the side of the G8, go is currently 6th and 3.5 games behind 4th. They will need to get a move on if they want to finish 5th or better to avoid a tough RL match. Same goes with meateors except they are 5.5 games behind and are most likely content with an RL match. The big Q is, will they bring it come RL? Then you have the top 5. 1 win between them so anyone of those teams can still finish top and get hca. However, no team can forget about the Scorpions who currently sit 5th, 3 wins behind 4th. They were in the cup for 4 rds so their league results may have suffered slightly. They have only lost once since their cup exit and that was by 1 pt against the wombats.
Predictions
Yarra Park Bears @ High School Drop-outs
Drop outs have beaten Wombats (#1 at the time), JW (#3) and Red (#3) since being knocked out of the cup. So this 3 game winning streak is quality and backed by the fact they are playing at home.
Drop-outs 14
Red Star Bayswater @ Gisborne Gladiators
Red Star have not been in their best form of late and seem to struggle against other top teams. Gisborne recently out of the cup, seems to have managed players very well and seem more determind to get that top spot.
Gisborne by 25
JW City Bulls @ Sand Dune Scorpions
JW seem to be having an up and down season and have 2 very tough teams coming up. If they are picking and choosing which teams they try and beat each week, then based only on position, the scorpians may need to worry. However, as mentioned earlier, the Scorpians are doing so well that I can not go against them.
Scorpions by 9
Lewisham Wombats @ GC Vikings
This match could be purhaps seen as a grand final match.
Wombats have been going through a rough patch of late but still most likely to make it to the final.
GC had a shock loss to doncaster but after last seasons dissapointment, will be fully commited to go a step further ths time around. This match will them both know where they're at, and how to set themselves up for the playoffs.
GC by 5 in OT
R0ckers @ The Meateors
Both teams would want to show off their skills in this TV match. If the Rockers want to stay alive in D2, then this becomes a critical match for them. On the other hand, Meateors will want to finish higher if they want to get hca for RL if not finih 5th.
ROckers by 15
porirua @ Whompas Donkeys
porirua would want to put more pressure on Red Stars and JW to make the playoffs, however, they also need to keep winning to take as much pressure off themselves to avoid an RL battle.
Donkeys have to win to keep up with the rest of the top 4 in the G8 so this will be a close one.
Donkeys by 4
Doncaster Flames @ Southern Breakers
Push the red button if you wanna watch this on TV cause this is the 2nd TV match for the week.
Not much to say here beside Flames will get out of neg PD and put more pressure on teams above. Breakers on the other hand, will keep their #1 draft position.
Flames by 77
Last edited by pete at 4/26/2013 10:10:18 PM