Slayers have an Axe to grind
Who would have thought that with two rounds remaining, the DC Slayers would be sitting in pole position and making a run at a perfect 8-0 record.
That might sound achievable if it weren’t for their next opponents in the 2010 Champions, the Jacksonville Axemen. The Axemen are hot on their heels in second place and while this week’s winner might determine who gets the bragging rights of first place, it could also be a preview of this year’s Championship Final.
For the Axemen, this game is a must win to cement home field advantage for the playoffs where they have a perfect home record since 2008. This year has been devastating in terms of injuries with this weekend also ruling out star players Matt Clark, Matt Thornton and Akarika Dawn. Coach Spinner Howland commented, “It was great to get back to our winning ways last weekend against the Rebellion but the Slayers will be the ultimate test to see if we have the depth to take on the form team of the competition.”
As for the Slayers, 2011 has been a memorable year in terms of on the field form, player commitment and team camaraderie. They are seeking their first ever championship title since forming in 2003 and believe this is their best chance of making that a reality. During the week, coach Danny Hanson was quoted, “We are preparing with the usual three practices this week focusing on basic execution of our game plan.” He continued, “This week's match is more than a regular season game and could make or break our finals positioning. We must execute everything we’ve practiced and play perfect rugby league to beat the Axemen.”
Another form player for the Slayers is Tim Douglas. "With Jacksonville as the reigning national champions, we definitely have our work cut out for us. You can never relax during a match with them or they will make you pay by capitalizing on the mistake."