The Olympia Warriors and Hobart Zebras both have the chance to take a giant leap towards securing the 2019 Women's Super League crown when they clash on Saturday at Warrior Park in Round 15's feature match. With just a point separating the pair, their two remaining fixtures against each loom as the two most decisive games of the season left on the slate.
The Warriors currently sit on top by a point, but the Zebras do have a game in hand. The Zebras also have the tougher games left, with two games against the Kingborough Lions and Ulverstone still to come, where as the Warriors only have to play those sides once. So whilst the Zebras seemingly hold the edge for now, the softer schedule evens that back out somewhat.
If their two previous encounters are anything to go by, this should be super tight. Olympia claimed their season opening game when they won 3-2 at North Hobart Oval, before playing out an arm wrestle of a 2-2 draw in Round 6 at Warrior Park. In addition to Saturday's showdown they will also clash on the final day of the season in what could loom as a mini grand final. Winning on Saturday increases the chances of heading into that final day clash with the lead in the league, and being able to win the title on that final day with a draw could prove significant. So the stakes couldn't be higher for this clash and the stage is set for an epic battle.
The Zebras enter the game on the stronger run of form, they've really built nicely into the season and won their past six WSL games. Throw in a Statewide Cup title amidst that run and the last time they didn't walk off the field victors was the last time these sides met back in April. Olympia meanwhile have won their past two games, but came unstuck away to Ulverstone in a 2-0 loss. It looked like they might be heading into this game in second place too, till Bonnie Davies struck a dramatic late winner at the Den last week to ensure they remained at the summit. Her form along with Madison Chambers looms as the biggest threat to a Zebras defence led by the rock solid Mason/Steventon partnership that has yielded just 1 goal against per game this season. The prodigiously talented Warriors Wide Women have the pace to get in behind and cause major headaches if you can't cut off their supply. This makes the midfield battle all the more important and in Burt/Berry and Williams/Michael/Bomford you have the makings of a tantalising midfield duel. Whichever of these players can stamp themselves the most on the contest will go a long way to winning the game, because there is no doubting the embarrassment of attacking riches each side possess will hit the back of the net if they are supplied with the ammunition.
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Mason's pace will be pivotal to dealing with the Chambers threat- Solstice Photography[/caption]
In other Round 15 action, South Hobart will entertain an Ulverstone side that has proved a nightmarish match up for them over the past couple of seasons. In 7 games across the Cup and Super League, Ulverstone have won all 7 of their clashes and outscored them 49-5 in those games, though South did push them at Darcy Street in a 3-2 Statewide Cup defeat back in April. Given the age profiles of the two sides its not too surprising that this Ulverstone side have presented a set of challenges that other sides haven't, the physical edge they hold is pretty significant. With the title out of their reach, holding off the Lions for third place is Ulverstone's challenge from here on out and they should pick up three points to help them in that endeavour from this one.
Kingborough shouldn't be losing any ground on Ulverstone though as they travel to Wentworth Park to take on a struggling Clarence United. But then you would have said that the only other time the sides have met in the league this year. Clarence conjured their best performance of the season that day to claim a shock 2-1 win down at the Den, and whilst they have been on a horror run of results ever since, it showed what they are capable of. With a keeper of Amelia Vanderniet's quality, they are capable of stealing games if they can hang in long enough and the Lions simply cannot be as profligate as they were in that game this time around. That loss was a real stinger for a Lions side who remain very Jekyll and Hyde, their best can match it with any side in the competition, but producing that consistently has proved challenging. They will be out to avenge that prior defeat on Saturday, as they meet the Reds for the first of 3 games they still have to play against them in the run home.
Round 15
Saturday 13 July
Olympia v Hobart Zebras, 2:00pm, Warrior Park LIVE STREAMED
South Hobart v Ulverstone, 2:00pm, Darcy Street
Clarence United v Kingborough, 2:00pm, Wentworth Park
Mason's pace will be pivotal to dealing with the Chambers threat- Solstice Photography[/caption]
In other Round 15 action, South Hobart will entertain an Ulverstone side that has proved a nightmarish match up for them over the past couple of seasons. In 7 games across the Cup and Super League, Ulverstone have won all 7 of their clashes and outscored them 49-5 in those games, though South did push them at Darcy Street in a 3-2 Statewide Cup defeat back in April. Given the age profiles of the two sides its not too surprising that this Ulverstone side have presented a set of challenges that other sides haven't, the physical edge they hold is pretty significant. With the title out of their reach, holding off the Lions for third place is Ulverstone's challenge from here on out and they should pick up three points to help them in that endeavour from this one.
Kingborough shouldn't be losing any ground on Ulverstone though as they travel to Wentworth Park to take on a struggling Clarence United. But then you would have said that the only other time the sides have met in the league this year. Clarence conjured their best performance of the season that day to claim a shock 2-1 win down at the Den, and whilst they have been on a horror run of results ever since, it showed what they are capable of. With a keeper of Amelia Vanderniet's quality, they are capable of stealing games if they can hang in long enough and the Lions simply cannot be as profligate as they were in that game this time around. That loss was a real stinger for a Lions side who remain very Jekyll and Hyde, their best can match it with any side in the competition, but producing that consistently has proved challenging. They will be out to avenge that prior defeat on Saturday, as they meet the Reds for the first of 3 games they still have to play against them in the run home.
Round 15
Saturday 13 July
Olympia v Hobart Zebras, 2:00pm, Warrior Park LIVE STREAMED
South Hobart v Ulverstone, 2:00pm, Darcy Street
Clarence United v Kingborough, 2:00pm, Wentworth Park