TeleChoice Premier League clubs enter Round 3 of the Tiger Turf Cup

A total of 32 clubs from the TeleChoice Premier League right through to various Association sides from across NSW have made up the 16 matches set for round 3 of the Tiger Turf Cup.
Flying the flag for the Associations, Sutherland Shire?s Gymea, Gladesville Hornsby?s Pacific Hills Dural and the Southern Tablelands Football Association Strikers have battled since the early stages of the Preliminary rounds in lining up against some of NSW?s best football clubs.
Gymea have been dealt with a major task in tackling fierce TeleChoice Premier League opponents Bonnyrigg White Eagles in what has been pitted as a ?David versus Goliath? battle. The White Eagles have gone from strength to strength since coach Brian ?Bomber? Brown entered the fray and no doubt he would be wanting nothing more than a victory against their opponents.
Along the same lines, Pacific Hills Dural make the tough trek to Cromer Park when they face Phil Moss? Manly United squad which will be a huge task for the squad from the Gladesville Hornsby area.
STFA Strikers are set to lock horns with Ramsin Shamon?s Fraser Park squad in what promises to be an interesting encounter between the two at Fraser Park. Shamon is hoping that his side can continue their good form in the Cup after experiencing difficulties in the opening stages of its Super League campaign where the club has found itself lingering towards the bottom of the ladder. STFA Strikers will certainly be no pushover side after they defeated Super League giants Macarthur Rams 4-3 on penalties in round 2 of the Tiger Turf Cup
John Fleming?s Port Kembla squad face the arduous task of taking on 2008 Tiger Turf Cup winners Bankstown City Lions in what will be a fierce encounter between the two sides in a double header at Jensen Park.  Currently doing it tough in the Illawarra Premier League, Fleming?s men will need to be at their very best if they are to knock off a spirited Lions outfit hungry for more Cup success in 2009 under Peter Tsekenis.
At the same ground prior to the Bankstown City Lions v Port Kembla clash, high flying Super League side Rockdale City Suns will be pushing for a positive result as they entertain State League 2 outfit Springwood. Suns coach Mile Todorovski will be sending out a stern message to the rest of the Cup entrants that they mean business as they hope to overcome a gutsy Springwood outfit.
Jason Falzon?s high flying PCYC Parramatta Eagles will be seen as favourites when they entertain State League 2 outfit Prospect United at Melita Stadium. The game will certainly be no easy task for the Eagles but with a coveted Quarter-Finals spot up for grabs, the club knows that they would want to be there mixing it up with the TeleChoice Premier League sides.
Luke McGuire?s Sydney Tigers outfit make the tough trip up to Pluim Park when they tackle Super League outfit Central Coast Lightning. Peter Preston understands that home advantage could prove to be the key in the Lightning?s progression towards the next stage of the Cup however the Tigers have improved slightly since it?s early season dip in form in the TeleChoice Premier League.
2008 TeleChoice Premier League Premiers Sutherland Sharks have been drawn to play Super League outfit Sydney University. The Sharks have stated that they will be taking the Cup serious as Robbie Stanton hopes to bring some silverware towards Sutherland?s trophy cabinet at the end of the season.
It will be the battle of the two Tigers squads as Camden Tigers tackle Northern Tigers in what should be an interesting spectacle at Sydney United Sports Centre. The Northern Tigers fielded a relatively young squad in their 2-0 victory over Balmain in the last round but with a precious Quarter-Finals spot up for grabs, the club will be looking towards capitalising on a date with a potential TeleChoice Premier League side.
Following this match will see TeleChoice Premier League high flyers Sydney United taking on Nick Orlic?s St George FC side. The Reds are currently on a hot streak in the TeleChoice Premier League and would love to continue their good form in the by progressing into the latter stages of the Cup. For the Saints, a date with the in-form side of the TeleChoice Premier League may seem daunting however Orlic will be pumping up his chargers for a huge match for the Super League outfit.
At Lidcombe Oval, TeleChoice Premier League side West Sydney Berries are hoping to put a smile on their faces possibly progressing into the next round when they entertain Super League side Granville Rage. The Rage will certainly be no push-over side as Hugh McCrory?s men will be up for the task in bringing down the Berries.
State League 1 outfit Sydney Wanderers plays host to current TeleChoice Premier League cellar dwellers Wollongong Community FC at Hajduk Stadium. The Wanderers will be looking at consolidating on the South Coast club?s recent poor form in the TeleChoice Premier League as they hope to be amongst the big boys in the next stages of the Cup.
Lee Sterrey?s Marconi Stallions squad have been drawn against State League 1 side Inter Lions. Sterrey may adopt the approach of using some of the Stallions young talented Under 20?s stars but will not be taking Inter lightly as the club searches for some much needed silverware.
State League 2 outfit Roosters FC have been drawn against Ian Gillan?s Penrith Nepean United side in a game that could go either way. Roosters FC have been known in the past for being one of the surprise packets of the Tiger Turf Cup and on their day, may upset the heavyweights of NSW?s elite competition.
It will be an interesting tussle at Christie Park when newly promoted Super League side Spirit FC tackle TeleChoice Premier League side Sydney Olympic. The Blues will be looking towards going one step further than last year after they were defeated by rivals Bankstown City Lions in the 2008 Tiger Turf Cup Final.
Finally, Ken Schembri?s Blacktown City Demons have settled a date with State League 1 side Dulwich Hill.

Tiger Turf Cup Round 3 Fixtures:
Marconi Stallions v Inter Lions Wednesday 13th May 7:30pm Marconi Stadium
Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Gymea Wednesday 13th May 8:15pm Bonnyrigg Sports Centre
Rockdale City v Springwood Wednesday 13th May 6:45pm Jensen Park
Bankstown City Lions v Port Kembla Wednesday 13th May 8:30pm Jensen Park
Blacktown City v Dulwich Hill Wednesday 13th May 6:30pm Gabbie Stadium
Penrith Nepean United v Roosters FC Wednesday 13th May 8:15pm Gabbie Stadium
Camden Tigers v Northern Tigers Wednesday 13th May 6:30pm Sydney United Sports Centre
Sydney United v St George FC Wednesday 13th May 8:15pm Sydney United Sports Centre
PCYC Parramatta Eagles v Prospect United Wednesday 13th May 7:30pm Melita Stadium
Sutherland Sharks v Sydney University Wednesday 13th May 7:30pm Seymour Shaw
Fraser Park v STFA Strikers Wednesday 13th May 8:00pm Fraser Park
West Sydney Berries v Granville Rage Wednesday 13th May 7:30pm Lidcombe Oval
Manly United v Pacific Hills/Dural Tuesday 19th May 7:30pm Cromer Park
Sydney Wanderers v Wollongong Community FC Tuesday 19th May 7:30pm Hajduk Stadium
Central Coast Lightning v Sydney Tigers Tuesday 19th May 8:15pm Pluim Park
Spirit FC v Sydney Olympic Wednesday 20th May 7:30pm Christie Park

-By Mark Stavroulakis