Football Wagga reporter Lachlan Grey casts an eye over the opening three months of competition to see which teams are firing and who’s got the goods to take out the title. 

EIGHT WINS – ONE DRAW – ZERO LOSSES

It's been Lake Albert first and daylight second so far this season as the Sharks eye off Pascoe Cup glory.

Last year’s beaten grand finalists are proving they’re ready to go one better in this year’s competition.

Currently riding a nine-game unbeaten streak, Lake Albert boast an average winning margin of more than two goals per game.

It’s no surprise to hear Fred and Henri Gardner have been in ominous touch with 14 goals between them but defenders Chris Durman and Blake Smith have been the foundation of their side’s success.

The back line duo have been vital in containing Lake Albert’s opposition to just eight goals in nine games.

The Sharks aren’t just chewing up the minnows either - they’ve comfortably accounted for their nearest rivals Tolland (6-2) and registered wins over fourth-placed Henwood Park (4-1) and fifth-placed Young (1-0).

A scoreless draw against the Lions last month is the only blight on an otherwise perfect start but the Sharks still have two games remaining against third-placed Cootamundra.

Still, it’s hard to see Mitch Tinnock’s men not featuring in the big dance and not many punters would bet against Lake Albert taking home a premiership this season.

PREDICTION: PREMIERS

FIVE WINS – ZERO DRAWS – FOUR LOSSES

Henwood Park haven't quite found their mojo this season but don't write the defending champions off yet.

Let’s face it - it’s not quite the start first-year coach Ryan McKenzie would have hoped for.

The Hawks launched out of the blocks with three early wins but have since shown little of the premiership-winning form that saw them dominate last year’s competition.

Henwood Park have dropped three of their past five games, including a particularly brutal 6-1 drubbing at the hands of Tolland, and there’s plenty of questions that need answering before the second half of the season gets underway.

There’s no denying the Hawks can kick goals but defence remains an issue after conceding an average of two goals per game in the opening nine rounds.

Sunday’s clash with Cootamundra looms as a potential season-breaker and the Hawks will be keeping an eye on their goal differential as finals comes into focus.

Matt Menser’s on-field presence and the fitness of Jake Ploenges could also be the key to securing back-to-back premierships.

Can Henwood Park turn it around and add another title to their trophy cabinet? It all hinges on this weekend.

PREDICTION: FOURTH

FIVE WINS – ONE DRAW – THREE LOSSES

The Strikers endured a lean season last year and looked destined for another, but there's a lot to like about this crop.

Cootamundra have bounced back from last year’s disappointing campaign with a six-game unbeaten streak and Strikers fans are daring to dream.

Three losses to Henwood Park, Leeton and Tolland put a dampener on their opening month of competition but Adam McPhail’s men have found their rhythm and the tide is starting to turn in their favour.

Derek Krogh has begun to make his mark on the competition while teenage talent Scott Endacott is set for a long career at O’Connor Park after enjoying a breakout season.

Soccer can be a cruel game and, if not for a season-ending injury to talismanic forward Brent Farnsworth and the unfortunate departure of Dylan Berkrey, a full-strength Strikers team would be considered genuine title contenders. 

However, upcoming clashes with Henwood Park, Tolland and Lake Albert will sorely test the undermanned Strikers, who may also be without Brenton Forsyth and Steve Armstrong, and Cootamundra wil have to fight hard to cling to their current ranking.

Sunday’s clash with the Hawks will be one to watch.

PREDICTION: SIXTH

ONE WIN – ONE DRAW – SEVEN LOSSES

The Burns Park faithful are struggling for positives after a bright start gave way to seven successive losses.

The Jaguars have endured a torrid season both on and off the paddock.

The 2015 premiers haven’t tasted success since opening their Pascoe Cup campaign with a bang against Wagga United and things haven’t been easy at Burns Park this year.

A 4-1 win at Duke of Kent Oval followed by a 2-all draw with South Wagga had the Jaguars on a roll before the tight-knit club was rocked by tragic and unforseen circumstances.

Since then, on-field results have also suffered with unavailabilities and injuries to key players.

More than five players on average are backing up from the Gardiner Shield to play in Junee’s first grade side and fatigue has likely played in a role in the Jaguars’ suspect defence.

The beleaguered side has conceded 20 goals in their past five games and looks unlikely to make strides up the ladder but there’s still plenty of time for Junee to spring an upset.

Sunday’s clash with Wagga United shapes a potential drought-breaker for the Jaguars and a win on their home track could spark some life back into the blue and yellow jersey.

PREDICTION: TENTH

THREE WINS – ZERO DRAWS – SIX LOSSES

It's hard to tell which Wagga United side will turn up each week after a mixed bag in the opening nine rounds.

The men in orange can talk the talk, but can they walk the walk as the finals race heats up?

Coach Travis Weir has been vocal about his side’s capabilities and strengths and there’s no denying a team that has beaten both Henwood Park and Young has talent.

Here’s the problem - United have scored in all games bar one and boast two clean sheets but they’ve an unfortunate tendency to let close games slip.

One-goal losses have been a killer for the Duke of Kent faithful and if they could’ve forced draws against Tolland, Cootamundra and Tumut, United might be sitting much higher on the ladder.

Tough away trips to O’Connor Park and Bull Paddock will test United while their final two games against Lake Albert and Young could very well determine their finals credentials.

Much hinges on the availability of United’s two premier keepers, Andrew McCracken and Gareth Veitch, and every competition point is vital hereon in.

Can United withstand the pressure of four away games and, more importantly, can they match the hype?

PREDICTION: SEVENTH

FOUR WINS – THREE DRAWS – TWO LOSSES

The Lions have mastered the art of miserly defence but limited scoring options could cripple their finals charge.

Young have been the surprise packets so far in 2018 but Mark Mellish’s men need to offer more in attack if they’re to feature in the pointy end of the season.

The Lions have the second-best defence in the competition and produced a memorable upset over Henwood Park in May to go with their gritty draw against ladder-leaders Lake Albert.

The scoreless result against the Sharks raised Young’s profile and showcased a tight-knit defensive unit capable of containing the competition’s best attacking talents.

Young’s record against top-four sides is better than most, however, the Lions need to focus on each game as it comes and begin converting pressure into points against weaker opposition.

With an average player age of roughly 22 years, youthful exuberance is certainly on Youngs’ side but recent losses to Leeton and Wagga United show there’s plenty to work on.

Two blockbuster games against Tolland loom as the Lions’ biggest challenge and Young fans will be sweating on the availability of Duncan Cameron in the coming weeks.

PREDICTION: FIFTH

THREE WINS – ZERO DRAWS – SIX LOSSES

Tumut have endured a wobbly start but six upcoming home games could see the Eagles soar into finals.

If the Young Lions are the defensive specialists in need of a few more goals, attack-driven Tumut are their polar opposites.

The Eagles have been an exciting machine this season, netting 21 times in nine matches to sit third on the ladder for goals scored with James Goode and Daniel French taking the lion’s share.

Tumut’s attacking prowess has rivals on alert, however, defence remains a problem.

There’s no denying the Eagles have played against quality opposition but conceding 22 goals is a bitter pill to swallow for a team more than capable of playing in September. 

However, there’s nothing like a home ground advantage and Tumut have the luxury of six games at Bull Paddock during the back end of the season to peg back their unflattering goal differential and bag a few wins.

Momentum is on the Eagles’ side as they head into a difficult month featuring clashes with Lake Albert and Henwood Park but big man Reece Mastellotto and attacking talent Mitchell Dixon could hold the key to Tumut securing a preliminary final berth.

It’s a bold call but we’re tipping Tumut to go big in the back end of the season.

PREDICTION: THIRD

FOUR WINS – ZERO DRAWS – FIVE LOSSES

The road to finals is long and perilous for a Leeton United side yet to hit their straps in 2018.

Leeton United’s inconsistency has proved their downfall but the men out west remain a dark horse to feature in this year’s Pascoe Cup finals.

Mick Doolin’s side are yet to register consecutive wins this season despite a wealth of home games and have drawn critique from their coaching staff for not being adequately prepared on game day.

Early away losses to Wagga United and Cootamundra also bode ill for a team facing six road trips in the next nine rounds and Leeton must improve their travelling form if they’re to be any reasonable chance of playing in the September knockouts.

That being said, last month’s 4-0 win over Young was no fluke and the red and blacks have shown they’re capable of putting good sides like Tumut to the sword on foreign soil.

Crucially, Leeton are yet to face bottom-placed Junee and will have another opportunity to secure points against competition strugglers South Wagga, but it’s an uphill battle.

PREDICTION: EIGHTH

ONE WIN – ONE DRAW – SEVEN LOSSES

Luke Nichols' men have just one win and one draw to their name but last weekend's showing has given South Wagga some hope.

There’s not much finals hope for the ninth-placed Warriors but stranger things have happened and a forgiving schedule might see South Wagga stir up the competition in coming weeks.

The men in green have been consistent in attack and haven’t been kept scoreless since round one.

Defence, however, is the Warriors’ primary concern and a few back line adjustments wouldn’t go astray.

South Wagga have conceded a whopping 28 goals in nine games at an average of more than three scores per game and they’ve conceded five goals in a game three times this season.

That’s not to say South Wagga aren’t capable of an upset - one needs only to reflect on last weekend’s blistering performance against Lake Albert to see the Warriors can match it with the best.

The Warriors led 1-0 until just before halftime and few teams can boast leading the Sharks this season.

If they can shore up that suspect defence, perhaps we’ll see some more surprises before finals.

PREDICTION: NINTH

EIGHT WINS – ZERO DRAWS – ONE LOSS

Star striker Jaiden O'Brien is enjoying a breakout season up front for an impressive Tolland outfit.

Tolland were the centre of controversy last year after the side’s infamous preliminary final forfeiture but the Wolves are making more than headlines this season.

Eight wins from nine games would make even the sternest coach smile and injured captain-coach Daniel Lawrence couldn’t have asked for a better start to his tenure in charge of the blue and whites.

Though the team has produced impressive football across the paddock, there’s no overlooking the scintillating form of Jaiden O’Brien.

The star striker has bagged 15 goals in nine games, exceeding the combined total of his team mates, and is sitting five goals clear of Fred Gardner atop the competition leaderboard.

Meanwhile, UK import Jack Follows has helped tighten the Wolves’ back line while Nicholas Tsiparis, Matthew Kleine and stand-in skipper Richard Skidmore have impressed in Lawrence’s absence.

Tolland’s only black mark came in May against a rampant Lake Albert but clear your schedule for the rematch on August 8 at Rawlings Park - the Wolves are hungry for revenge.

PREDICTION: RUNNERS UP