NEWCASTLE OLYMPIC V CHARLESTOWN AZZURRI
DARLING ST OVAL, Saturday 3.40PM
Newcastle Olympic coach Paul Devitis says his side understands the importance of Saturday’s clash against Charlestown Azzurri with the winner to take a huge stride towards securing a home final.
Azzurri arrive at Darling Street in third place on the table, one point clear of fourth-placed Olympic. Azzurri and Olympic are guaranteed to meet in the first week of the finals with third or fourth place assured. Who hosts the elimination final is the only thing left to confirm.
Charlestown thrashed New Lambton 14-1 last weekend, while Olympic threw away two points after playing out a 3-3 draw with Adamstown Rosebud.
Olympic though will be looking to make it a hat-trick of wins over Azzurri in the rescheduled round 15 match, having already beaten Charlestown twice this season. Olympic downed Azzurri 4-1 and 1-0 in rounds one and eight respectively.
Devitis said he knew how pivotal Saturday’s tie was with a home semi-final on the line.
“Knowing that whoever wins the game is in pole position to host the semi-final game which will end up being against each other as well, so it is definitely important for both teams,” Devitis said.
“I think it's going to be a tightly contested game, especially based off the first two encounters this year.
“They have done a double over us so far but they were both really close games that went right down to the wire.
“So from last week I think the big one and the girls know this already is that we need to finish off the game. The last 10 minutes [against Adamstown] cost us pretty dearly on the weekend.”
While Devitis and his Newcastle Olympic side will be looking to climb above Azzurri, Charlestown coach Niko Papaspiropoulos expects the game to be a sneak peak of the semi-final in a fortnight.
“We know we are going to be playing Olympic in the final now. That's been already determined based on the results from last week,” Papaspiropoulos said.
“So now we are playing for the home semi and the home grand advantage. It's also a bit of a warm up to the final since we'll be playing each other again in two weeks’ time.
“We have already played each other a few times and have had some good tight matches with them. They are a quality side so it will be another entertaining and tight game.
“I’m excited to be on the business end of the season and I’m looking forward to every game we have left and obviously we want to take momentum into the finals.”
The match is the only NPL Women’s NNSW match to be played this weekend, with final round to complete the regular season next weekend.