Premier Youth League Round 22 Review

Well, here we are at the end of the competition and on the eve of the finals series. I can scarcely believe that the season has gone by so quickly. My congratulations go to the teams who have won the Premiership, to the teams who will play in the play-offs and to the teams who have made this season one of the most competitive in memory.
Grade 13
Sutherland Sharks claimed the title as Premiers by a one point margin when they played out a scoreless draw with ninth placed Wollongong FC while Marconi Stallions stayed at second when they were 4-0 winners over Bankstown City.
Blacktown City Demons finished six points further back at third after they came up with a 2-0 win over eighth placed West Sydney Berries and Manly United finished eight points further adrift at fourth following their 1-1 draw with Macarthur Rams who were in fifth place on Saturday afternoon.
However, there was to be a twist in the tale as Sydney United, who had remained in sixth spot after defeating eleventh placed Sydney Olympic on Saturday, went on to roll seventh placed A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers on Sunday in a Round 8 catch-up match and so they finished at fifth and forced the Rams back to sixth.
The Tigers had won their Saturday clash with twelfth placed Penrith Nepean United 4-1.
Grade 14
Sutherland Sharks have claimed the crown as Premiers on goal difference following their spectacular 9-0 win over tenth placed Wollongong FC while Blacktown City Demons had to be content with second spot after they produced a 3-2 victory over fourth placed West Sydney Berries.
Marconi Stallions finished the season in third place, five points behind the front two, after they were held to a scoreless draw by twelfth placed Bankstown City and Penrith Nepean United completed the competition in fifth place on goal difference following their 2-0 loss to eighth placed A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers.
Sydney Olympic ended up in sixth position after they drew 2-2 with seventh placed Sydney United who also had a scoreless draw with ninth placed NSWIS Girls and then they lost the Round 8 catch-up game with the Tigers 4-2.
Eleventh placed Macarthur Rams ended their season on a high with a 1-0 win over thirteenth placed Manly United who also suffered a 1-0 loss to NSWIS Girls.
Grade 15
Wollongong FC were crowned Premiers by a single point after they posted a 1-0 victory over ninth placed Sutherland Sharks while Blacktown City Demons were in second spot following their 3-0 success over eighth placed West Sydney Berries.
A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers were nine points further back after they drew 0-0 with eleventh placed Penrith Nepean United and then the Tigers lost the Round 8 catch-up with sixth placed Sydney United. It was a busy week for United as they were 2-1 winners over the thirteenth placed NSWIS Girls and then they went down 1-0 to fourth placed Sydney Olympic on Saturday.
Marconi Stallions finished in fifth position after they drew 1-1 with twelfth placed Bankstown City while Manly United ended up at seventh following their 2-0 win over tenth placed Macarthur Rams and 2-0 success over NSWIS Girls in a Round 15 catch-up match.
Grade 16
Manly United earned the title of Premiers by a margin of two points thanks to their 2-0 win over seventh placed Macarthur Rams while A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers missed the opportunity to grab the top spot when they drew 2-2 with eighth placed Penrith Nepean United and then drew 1-1 with fifth placed Sydney United in a Round 8 catch-up match. Sydney United had come up with a 2-0 win over eleventh placed Sydney Olympic on Saturday.
Marconi Stallions ended the competition in third place after their 1-0 result over tenth placed Bankstown City and Blacktown City Demons were in fourth position following their 1-1 draw with twelfth placed West Sydney Berries.
Wollongong FC finished sixth, three points outside the top five when they downed ninth placed Sutherland Sharks 5-2.
Grade 18
Blacktown City Demons had already claimed the title and they finished the season seven points clear of their nearest rivals when they produced a 1-0 victory over ninth placed West Sydney Berries while Penrith Nepean United finished second thanks to their 2-1 result over third placed A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers.
Marconi Stallions ended the season in fourth place following their 4-0 scoreline over tenth placed Bankstown City and Sydney Olympic were fifth after they suffered a 3-1 loss to eighth placed Sydney United.
Wollongong FC completed their commitments in sixth place and only one point outside the top five following their 3-2 loss to twelfth placed Sutherland Sharks and Manly United were seventh on goal difference after they were 3-0 victors over eleventh placed Macarthur Rams. 
-By Barry Davis