So Many Questions to be Answered

3 Weeks stands between the exhilleration of playing in the Premiership finals and the isolation of not. It is the time that turns up the temperature that fires the pressure cooker creating an atmoshere that is either embraced or turned away. Just as the tip of a bronze spear is hardened in a forge of fire, some teams will get better. Sadly however, others will find this hat not to their liking and melt away lie ice does to a puddle of water. Questions, questions questions; who will have the nerve, who will meet the challenge, who will have the answers?

The All Night Chemists (6 wins 6 losses poor % Play Wood Ducks, Tunners, Saaksjarvies)
The ANC have suffered greatly from a lack of playing staff as injuries, renovations and overseas trips are starting to take their toll. It would seem that their finals chances are slipping dangerously away as they have plummeted from their top 4 position to 11th with 3 straight losses. They face a must win match against their bitter rivals the Wood Ducks who have amazingly fallen even further from that ladder leading position 7 weeks ago. It is a opportunity the ANC need to take. They will need 8 wins due to poor percentage so need to beat the 2 teams below them on the ladder. A Tunners victory would be a bonus.

Corruptibles (6 wins 6 losses average % Play Wanderers, Tridents, F Troop)
An opportunity has opened up for the Corruptibles to storm into the 8 as they have the easiest run heading home to the finals. They are all very winnable games with F Troop and the Wanderers now turning their attention to the Cambridge Knockout and high draft picks. This leaves the Tridents clash in Round 14 as their season defining moment. It is rare for the Corruptibles to post a competition winner on a Saturday but they have a good mix of even scorers that gives great consistency to their end results however rarely do they have the very high score. Provided this depth continues, they should get their 2 wins, if someone fires in Week 14; they just might get all 3 and figure in July’s finals action.

Tridents (6 wins 6 losses Average % Play Buglers, Corruptibles, Ferrets)
There is a tough road ahead for the Tridents who must find a way to lift and sustain the effort over the next 3 weeks. It would be a worry on the mind of their Scottish Captain that they must win at least 2 of the 3 to be assured of finals action. He is right to worry. They have won their past 2 which means they have some momentum up to take them into this task but after posting the great score of 183 last week to knock off Cambridge, have they any gas left in their tank. The up and down nature of their scores this season would suggest that they perform better in short bursts, that the tank that they need to fuel this run to the finals may not be that big. For their sake, lets hope they find some alternative energy sourse as well, for the engine that powers this side needs to run on fulll burn for 3 weeks in order to reach the warmth of the finals series.

In Time Dynasty (6 wins 6 losses Solid % Play Triple WWW, Brothers in Arms, Wally World)
Scraping back into the 8 after last week’s win over finals rivals the Tridents have set up In Time for the chance to play finals again. They also must find 2 wins to be assured however have a healthier percentage from their fellow 6 gamers due to a couple of extraordinarily high scores early in the season. They pack plenty of punch when on song however are capable of the less than ordinary weeks as well. This has seen them only piece together the joy of consecutive wins once this season. They will need to win this week against a rejuvenated Triple WWW side as they will be light on the ground the weeks after against this season’s juggernaut the Brothers in Arms. Then they need to find that massive game again as Wally World, are gaining some form and will be sure to be firing by Rd 15.

The Tunners (7 Wins, 5 Losses Average % Play Wally World, All Night Chemists, Snowgummers)
After a mirror image of their season last year, the Tunners withering run from last to the top 4 may have stopped too early. They still need wins and they form habits like an addict. Once they start they find it hard to stop. 4 losses, 7 wins and now tragically, another loss. They need to make sure they don’t keep this trend up and win again. The injued Ray Wilde seems to be back in form again which is a good sign but they missed teir gun draft picklast week; studying for exams. What is he thinking? He needs convincing he can pass and needs it quickly as they require him and all others to play great ths wek against the resurgent Wally World.

Wally World (7 Wins, 5 Losses Good % Play Tunners, Snowgummers, In Time Dynasty)
After gaining the momentum required with the defeat of arch rivals the Brothers in Arms, last years grand finalists are starting to make their move. They have a tough run home though and can not afford to fall into a slump or they could miss out on all the action they enjoyed last year. They almost won it from 7th position if the get a sniff, they will be very dangerous. Still a good side and their depth should see them post difficult scores to beat each week.

Buglers (7 Wins, 5 Losses Good % Play Tridents, F Troop, Triple WWW)
The Buglers sat at 5 wins 5 losses and the entire competition wondered if theyhad lost their mojo. However a quick look at te draw and you would have noted the chalenge thrown up to them in th fist half of the season. Since then, they have won the last two as the road in front of them has eased. They play te dangerously inconsistant Tridents this week in what should be their only real challenge running into finas action again and most likely, a top 4 position. The defence is very much alive.

Cambridge ( 7 wins, 4 Losses, 1 Draw Solid % Play F Troop, Triple WWW, Brothers in Arms)
It would wory the Captain as well as his teammates that he finally returned to Saurday golf, to the cauldren of the Premiership, and the tema lost. He would have been made enthusiastically well aware of the fie performances that his Cambridge side have put together over the past month in his absence. This week they play F Troop which I am sure would gladden his heart as it is a game they should win. In doing so, it will lift the pressure off his shoulders and his side will sit on the brink of a Top 4 position. I they lose this one, well, lets just say the jungle drums will start beating rather loud and greek food may be served on the night of their best and fairest.

Ferrets (8 Wins, 3 Losses, 1 Draw Good % Play Saaksjarvies, Wanderers, Tridents)
Strange as it may seem, The Ferretts look more dangerous this year than last. They are more humble than the side that took all before it before choking badly in the pressure of the finals. Thsi year, they have gradually found their form and have now put togther a good string of wins to find temselves now 3rd and only ½ a game off leading the competition again. They have steeled theselves to not let this Premiership get away. It is a strong team, its number gun Big Al Lehner is in fine form and they still feel the pain of last years defeat.....it is a recipe for disaster for all other teams in the competition.

Snowgummers (8 Wins, 3 Losses, 1 Draw Great % Play Brothers in Arms, Wally World, Tunners)
The ‘Gummers have found themselves in their rightful place. Their devastating finish to last years season losing the last 5 to miss the finals on percentage still is an open wound that bleeds with wevery loss they feel. They have scored heavily this season and refuse to contemplate another dissappointing end to another season. The draft picks chosen as “friends” have been worthy contributers and ther top draft picks Hocking and Harvie have justified their high selection. It is a good mix of talent and experience, steady players and pinch hitters, a team that has scored more points than all others, they are one of the Ferretts main dangers.

Brothers in Arms ( 9 Wins 3 Losses Good % Play Snowgummers, In Time Dynasty, Cambridge)
At this late stage of the season, the only worry for the Brothers in Ams was ther very dissappointing effort a few weeks ago against their enemies Wally World. I am sure they do not have to be reminded that they finished top 4 last year only to lose 2 in arow to drop meekly out of the race. Then to have played so poorly under the heat of their very own rivalry round would have turned up the pressure already, 3 weeks out from the finals. It ispressure that htey are yet to deal with adequately and they need to find a way to deal with it fast. No time like this weekend as they face the ‘Gummers in a top 2 clash which wil be the match of the round. It is the match that will answer once and for all, who will be the biggest theat to new favourites The Feretts, in th race for premiership glory