Semi Final Rematch Headlines Round 9 Super League Action

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The Women's Super League returns with Round 9 action throwing up a trio of interesting clashes, including the rematch of last Saturday night's thrilling Lions v Warriors clash. Having played out a pulsating Semi Final just 7 days earlier, the Lions and Warriors are once again set to clash, though this time at Warrior Park. Despite it being the Warriors home ground, it may not prove much of an advantage the hosts. All of the things the Lions defence did such a superb job of last week; constricting space, blocking off the top of the penalty box and marking Warriors attackers tightly, are easier to do at Warrior Park. Yes they will be under pressure for longer periods of the game and perhaps that will work to the Warriors advantage, but solving this Lions defence has proved extremely tough for Olympia. In 290 minutes of Football, they have scored just 3 goals against the Lions, an average of a goal every 96.33 minutes, compared with 14.3 minutes against any other side! For whatever reason, the Lions seem to have the recipe for slowing down this Olympia team and it's not just to do with their back four. The high pressing that they applied the Warriors last week saw them getting into trouble playing out and turning the ball over too frequently. If Olympia can tidy up this area, perhaps by having Olivia Bomford dropping in deeper to pick up the ball and start moves off, then they should be able to find the back of the net with more frequency than they have in their previous games against the Lions. In an end to end shootout style of a game, the Warriors will almost certainly win, so its in the Lions interest to keep the scoring chances down and make it an arm wrestle as it was last Saturday. https://youtu.be/-7Cg6wUgocY On the Saturday, South Hobart take on Hobart Zebras at Darcy Street. The clubs will join forces with South Hobart Primary school in supporting The Matildas upcoming World Cup campaign in France, by wearing green & gold and encouraging all in attendance to do likewise. The game kicks off at 2:00pm and post match South Hobart Primary School will unveil their banner of support for the Matildas, with a group photo to be taken with all in attendance. There will also be various small sided games from 4:00pm as well as a a sausage sizzle! Everyone is welcome to attend and it should be a great day celebrating Women's Football, well done to all involved in organising it. The game itself should be an interesting encounter, as South Hobart are starting to come along in leaps and bounds as the year wears on. After being thrown a major curve-ball with player departures and then an injury crisis to start the year, the results are now picking up for the young side. They pushed Olympia all the way in a 2-1 defeat in their last home outing, downed Clarence 4-1 and came close to a Cupset in their 3-2 loss to Ulverstone. So recently they have shown they are capable of competing with the better sides in the league, and they certainly face one of those sides on Saturday. The Zebras have started to build momentum and appear poised to begin a title charge. This game looks a lot more difficult for them than it did a month ago, but if they are to mount such a bid, then this is 3 points they simply have to have.   Finally at Wentworth Park on Saturday, Clarence will try and turn around their recent poor form when they take on Ulverstone at home in the battle of the Reds. Ulverstone have been patchy in their recent form, but will be expecting to head down South and get back on track against an opponent they are yet to play after their Round 3 game was postponed. Last year Clarence played their home game at KGV against Ulverstone, meaning this will be an unfamiliar venue for the visitors and that could be a factor in Clarence's favour. A combination of byes and Cup weekends mean that Clarence haven't played a lot of Football of late, but their performances have dipped when they have. They've have shipped a lot of goals to the top sides and they will need to be better at the back to contain this Ulverstone side and their spearhead Jazmin White, who just continues on her free scoring ways. A win for Clarence would see them leap over the top of Ulverstone on the table so the three points are going to be huge for both sides, with the visitors keen to begin an ascent up the table, even if a title bid seems unrealistic at this point. Whilst Clarence will be after some further breathing room from South Hobart and if they can string some result together, a top half finish remain a possibility. Round 9 Saturday 1 June South Hobart v Hobart Zebras, 2:00pm, Darcy Street Clarence United v Ulverstone SC, 2:30pm, Wentworth Park Sunday 2 June Olympia v Kingborough Lions, 12:00pm, Warrior Park