WITH Geelong Rangers forced to take the week off - due to the Bye - both second placed Barwon SC Red and third placed Surfside Waves will be looking to overtake the current leaders in Round 17 of the GRFC Men’s Division One this weekend.

Rangers are currently on top with 29 points from 15 games, followed by Barwon on 28, Surfside on 27 points and Drysdale in fourth place with 25 points. Barwon, the Waves and Drysdale have all played 14 games apiece.

Surfside will host Drysdale in the ‘Match of the Round’ at Shell Road Reserve on Friday night.

Things are that close at the top that a win could well thrust the Waves into top spot, a loss could see them tumble out of the top four with just one round remaining after this weekend. Kick-off is set down for 8:30pm.

There will be lots at stake at Grovedale Reserve on Sunday, with fifth placed Deakin Ducks playing for their season when they tackle Barwon SC Red on their own turf.

Currently in fifth spot with 22 points, a win would still give the Students hope of participating in September action, going into next week’s final round. Barwon, on the other hand, will automatically assume outright leadership of the competition with a win against the Ducks. Kick-off is 3:00pm..

In the battle for the wooden spoon between the two Eagles at White Eagle House, only goal difference separates sixth placed Breakwater Eagles from bottom side Corio SC. In another game that has a lot at stake, Breakwater currently has a +4 superior goal difference over its cross town rival.

DIVISION TWO:

THE Top Four teams in Men’s Division Two all have relatively easy assignments in Round 17 action this weekend.

Competition Top Dog, Surf Coast FC, hosts eighth placed Barwon SC Blue on Friday night at Banyul Warri Reserve, with the match kicking off at 6:30pm. A win for the Coasters will ensure they maintain their two point buffer at the top of the standings.

Second placed Barwon Heads SC will host bottom side Breakwater Eagles at Village Park on Sunday, knowing full well that nothing less than a win will keep it within striking distance of the leaders.

Third placed Lara SC is away to seventh placed Bell Park at Batesford, while fourth placed Bellarine Sharks host second last placed Drysdale at Lake Reserve in St Leonards.

DIVISION THREE:

LEAGUE leaders Corio Bay Blue will clinch the Division Three minor premiership on Sunday if it can secure a win against fourth placed Surfside Waves White at Howard Glover Reserve.

This game, which kicks off at 1:00pm, is the first of a season defining double header at Howard Glover Reserve, with the second match potentially also having a major impact on the final make-up of the ladder.

Second placed Geelong SC, which held top spot for the majority of the current season, is just four points adrift of Corio Bay. The Lions could close the gap on Corio Bay with a win over 10^th placed Corio Bay Gold in the 3:00pm game at Howard Glover Reserve, assuming Corio Bay Blue drops points against Surfside..

In the other game of significance in Division Three, third placed Deakin Ducks Green will travel to Torquay to take on sixth placed Surf Coast Blue at Banyul Warri Reserve on Friday night. Kick-off is at 8:30pm.

PHOTO: A Surfside player does battle with his Barwon opponent in Men’s Division One action earlier this season. Both teams will be looking to overtake current leaders Rangers this weekend (Photo: Patrick Callow)