The Youth League Report
That would certainly be true for all of you as the selection trials and then the preseason training and matches will have filled the void between the seasons with precious little time for a true break from the game.
This is the beginning of a potentially fantastic journey and I hope that it is an enjoyable one for each and every one of you. Let me take this opportunity to wish every team, player, coach and manager all the very best of luck for the season.
Who will win each of the competitions? Which teams will be in the top five? Who will be in the Grand Final and which team will win it? It really is anyone?s guess at this stage.
Yeah, yeah, I know! Some are already convinced that you already know the answers but the season is a long one and I am expecting a number of surprises as that has been the pattern established over the past few seasons. That is the very reason why you will never read predictions in this column.
The true measure of any Youth League season is whether or not the individual players and the teams have improved over the course of the year and if the answer is a resounding ?yes?, then the season must be considered to have been successful, no matter where you are placed on the final competition table.
So let?s have a look at what happened on the opening weekend.
Round 1 Overview
Wollongong FC posted a stunning start to their season when they took thirteen of the points from their visit to Bankstown City Lions while Marconi Stallions also had a first-up gain of thirteen points at home to Penrith Nepean United. West Sydney Berries registered a similar day when they earned thirteen points from their games at Sydney Olympic.
Sydney Tigers must have been delighted when they snatched eleven of the available points from their trip to league newcomers Bonnyrigg White Eagles. Manly United would have been pleased with their haul of nine points without losing a game at home to Sutherland Sharks while Blacktown City Demons grabbed eight points from their home matches against Sydney United.
Grade 13
Manly United shot to the top of the table when they posted the biggest score of the weekend when they produced an amazing 8-0 scoreline over Sutherland Sharks while West Sydney Berries were also winners on the day after they accounted for Sydney Olympic with a 4-2 scoreline and Marconi Stallions came up with a 1-0 victory over Penrith Nepean United.
Bankstown City Lions held Wollongong FC to a 1-1 draw and Blacktown City Demons played out a scoreless draw with Sydney United while Bonnyrigg White Eagles drew 1-1 with Sydney Tigers.
Grade 14
Sydney Tigers are the competition front-runners at this very early stage thanks to their 3-0 win over Bonnyrigg White Eagles while Wollongong FC are in second spot following their 2-0 result over Bankstown City Lions and West Sydney Berries are placed third after they defeated Sydney Olympic 1-0.
The match between Blacktown City Demons and Sydney United ended at 1-1 as did the game between Manly United and Sutherland Sharks and the clash of Marconi Stallions and Penrith Nepean United.
In their midweek encounter NSWIS Girls and Bankstown City Lions drew 1-1.
Grade 15
Blacktown City Demons have claimed the top spot on the ladder after the first round thanks to their 5-3 victory over Sydney United while Wollongong FC were 2-1 winners over Bankstown City Lions and Marconi Stallions downed Penrith Nepean United by the same scoreline.
West Sydney Berries were a little bit too good for Sydney Olympic when they won 1-0 and Manly United played out a scoreless draw with Sutherland Sharks. The match between Bonnyrigg White Eagles and Sydney Tigers also ended at 0-0.
Bankstown City Lions came up with a 5-0 result when they met NSWIS Girls in a midweek clash.
Grade 16
Wollongong FC are at the top of the table courtesy of their 5-1 result over Bankstown City Lions and Manly United earned second spot with a 3-0 victory over Sutherland Sharks while Marconi Stallions are third thanks to their 3-1 scoreline over Penrith Nepean United.
West Sydney Berries were 2-1 victors over Sydney Olympic, Blacktown City Demons went down 1-0 to Sydney United and Sydney Tigers produced a 2-0 win over Bonnyrigg White Eagles.
Grade 18
Sydney Tigers posted a solid 3-0 result when they met Bonnyrigg White Eagles and Wollongong FC defeated Bankstown City Lions by the odd goal in five while Blacktown City Demons were 1-0 winners over Sydney United.
Marconi Stallions came up with a 2-1 victory over Penrith Nepean United while Manly United and Sutherland Sharks were locked at 2-2 at the final whistle while Sydney Olympic and West Sydney Berries registered a 1-1 draw.
The Youth League Report
by Barry Davis
0429 937 324
Premier Youth League Round 1
Saturday and Sunday, 28th February and 1st March, 2009
