Lions Face A Must-win Start To July
Illawarra Mercury
Saturday July 3, 2004
JUNE was a desperately poor month for Sydney AFL club Wollongong but July should start better with the Lions facing the competition's whipping boys Penrith at Dukes Oval today.
After starting with five straight wins, the Lions have lost their last four to slide from co-leaders to fourth. They are clearly short on confidence, having been unable to finish off teams after being a winning hope in all four losses into the final quarter. The good news is today's opponents Penrith have won just one of 10 games, are stranded on the bottom two wins adrift from second last spot, and don't appear a threat to the better sides. Wollongong have struggled to kick a winning score in recent games, but Penrith have the competition's worst percentage and the Lions forwards will be expected to capitalise.Lions coach Leigh Forsyth has stressed the importance of a top-three finish to earn the finals double chance. His side can claim third spot on percentage from Holroyd-Parramatta with a win today with Holroyd having the round 12 bye. The two teams meet at North Dalton Park next Saturday and Wollongong need to head into that clash with a confidence-building win. In today's other matches, leaders Sydney Uni host Manly, Uni of NSW are at home to North-West Jets, UTS host Macquarie and South-West Sydney take on Southern Sharks.
© 2004 Illawarra Mercury