Vodafone Women's Premier League Round 22 Preview

By Niki Cook

The Vodafone WPL reaches its final round this weekend with Cranbourne Comets and Box Hill Inter locked together on points at the top of the table. The WPL’s own version of ‘Super Sunday’, with all matches kicking off at 3 pm, will determine not only the minor premiership, but also which team will join Ballarat and District in being relegated to Division One. Eastern Lions host Box Hill Inter at Gardiners Creek Reserve in a match that has a bearing on both ends of the ladder. A heavy defeat for the Lions, coupled with victory for the University of Melbourne, could see them return to Division One after a solitary year in the top flight. The Lions are currently tenth, three points ahead of the University. At the other end of the table, Inter is second on goal difference only, and has a chance at taking out the minor premiership if it betters Cranbourne’s result. Inter won the earlier meeting between the sides comfortably, scoring four times without reply. Fourth faces fifth at Ashburton Park, when Ashburton takes on Brimbank. The sides are level on points, so whichever team triumphs on Sunday will finish fourth. With the teams due to play each other again next weekend in the Elimination Final, this is a crucial game, as both clubs will want to go into that encounter with full squads and with the psychological advantage of having achieved a victory over its opponent. Ashburton had the upper hand when the teams met in Round 11, defeating Brimbank 4-2 to secure the points. Ballarat and District ends its WPL campaign at Trekardo Park with a match against Eltham North. It has proved a difficult year for Ballarat, which has struggled since joining the league, and this match promises to be no different, as it will take on an Eltham side that defeated it by seven goals earlier in the year. Eltham’s WPL status was secured last weekend and, barring defeat at Ballarat and an Eastern Lions victory over Inter, it looks set to finish ninth. Bendigo Vipers play their final match of the season at the La Trobe University Bendigo Athletics Complex against Heidelberg United in a game that will determine who finishes sixth on the ladder. Bendigo is currently a point behind Heidelberg, so victory would see it overtake its opponent and finish just outside the finals. Bendigo has actually lost one game fewer than Heidelberg, but has drawn a higher number of matches. Depending on other results, Heidelberg could finish as low as eighth, which is surprising given that until last weekend it was a chance at making the finals. Heidelberg was triumphant in the previous encounter between the sides, defeating Bendigo 3-1. Fresh from its draw against Cranbourne, a buoyant Keilor Park side will take on South Melbourne at Keilor Park Reserve hoping to maintain its form of last weekend into the finals. Keilor has already secured third place, but will want to finish with a victory to take it into next week’s qualifying final with Inter. Keilor was victorious last times the teams met, by four goals to one. After a disappointing second half to the season, South Melbourne has managed consecutive victories in its two most recent games and will want to make that three and finish the year on a positive note. The University of Melbourne will be playing for its WPL existence at Princess Park against Cranbourne Comets, as nothing short of a victory will be enough to save it from relegation. Even then, it would be relying on Eastern Lions suffering a heavy defeat. Given that no one but Box Hill has succeeded in defeating Cranbourne this season, the University’s chances of dodging the drop are slim. Cranbourne will take out the minor premiership for the second successive season if it repeats its 9-0 victory over the University. This year, that title has the added bonus of a bye for the first week of the finals.