Hyundai Queensland State League – Round Seventeen
Sunshine Coast Fire v Capricorn Cougars
Sunday, July 18, 2010 – 1.30pm
The HQSL Premiership is almost within the grasp of the Sunshine Coast Fire, who meet the Capricorn Cougars this Sunday in a must-win encounter.
Ten points clear with five matches to go, the Fire need only win two of their remaining five fixtures to clinch the title. But with the second-placed Brisbane Strikers on a hot-streak, the Fire cannot rest on their laurels and will need to be on guard against a determined Capricorn Cougars outfit.
Capricorn’s physical and direct style can do damage to unprepared teams, as the Whitsunday Miners found out when they copped a 5-0 drubbing from the Cougars last round. The Cougars went ahead after three minutes through Bryce Ruthven, who went on to score a hat-trick. Jordan Miller and influential captain Tristan Fraser also netted in the second half.
The Cougars are still a mathematical chance of playing finals football, currently 11 points adrift of the fourth-placed FNQ Bulls, although with a game in hand. Nothing short of a victory will be acceptable if the Cougars are to keep their slim finals hopes alive, and the Sunshine Coast will be preparing for an attacking onslaught.
After seeing off the FNQ Bulls and Queensland Academy of Sport in the last two rounds, the Fire are building some positive momentum as the finals draw near. Moving Yuta Gonai and Ryan Delahunty to wide positions has granted the Fire a new dimension in attack, and a well organised defence has made the side difficult to break down.
The Cougars and Fire have met twice this year, with the Fire claiming 4-2 and 1-0 victories in Round 3 and 10. Another win this weekend will potentially set up a season-defining clash at Perry Park next weekend against the Brisbane Strikers.
But for now, getting past Capricorn will be the only thing on the players minds. The Round 17 match will kick off at 1.30pm on Sunday, July 18 on Stockland Park’s Western Fields, and will be followed by the Under-19 Fire playing the Gold Coast at 3.30pm.
After being on the receiving end of a 6-1 scoreline against QAS last round, the Under-19s will be looking to restore some pride against the Gold Coast and consolidate their second-place position on the ladder.
