Clash to determine top spot on ladder

SIMON BRUNSDON
26 Jun, 2010 12:00 AM
by Simon Brunsdon

THE number one spot on the Football Wagga ladder will be the stakes of tomorrow's blockbuster hitout at Gissing Oval.

Henwood Park and Lake Albert will battle it out in the top-of-the-table clash to determine the front-runner to take out this year's premiership.

The two competition big-hitters sit neck-and-neck on the table with just one loss each.

After sealing a convincing 4-0 victory over the Sharks in their last meeting, Hawks coach Andrew Mason believes tomorrow will be a much tougher contest.

"The only game they've lost was when we beat them last time, so it should be a tough game," Mason said.

"I think they have improved since then but, from the results I've seen, they are coming along well.

"They haven't lost since last time and there are still those four teams at the top that are all pretty close."

Henwood Park has so far made it through the first-half of the season virtually unscathed and injury-free, and will head into tomorrow's game with a full-strength outfit.

Lake Albert will welcome back key striker Gary Niemeier into the attack and are sure to be boosted with his return.

Mason revealed the Hawks will be looking to keep Niemeier, Justin Curran and Sam Mangelsdorf quiet for the length of the game.

"The (Hawks) players had two weeks off then beat Tumut last week, so we should look pretty good in our fist game at Gissing," he said.

"We haven't played much over the last month, so we just need to get our shape and organisation set again.

"If we get everything right we should be able to break them down.

"We've been working on our speed of play and getting that first touch."

A win to the Sharks tomorrow would see them leapfrog the Hawks into first place on the Football Wagga ladder.

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