The Youth League Report (Premier Youth League) Round 11

A close look at the various tables reveals that very few, if any, teams can be certain of qualifying for the finals as they are still wide open. Much could be resolved in the next few weeks but then again, judging by the first round, maybe not.
Overview
Nine seems to have been a very popular number this weekend as the better performed club at every venue finished the day with nine points to show for their efforts.
Even though they did not lose a game on the day, Blacktown City Demons may have been a bit disappointed that they could take only nine points from their visit to Bankstown City while West Sydney Berries may have been very happy with the nine points they earned at Bonnyrigg White Eagles.
It is certain that Sydney Olympic would have been delighted with the nine points they pocketed at Marconi Stallions and Sutherland Sharks must have been happy that they bagged nine points at home to Penrith Nepean United.
Sydney United also did very well when they bagged nine points at home to Manly United.
On Sunday Wollongong FC hosted Sydney Tigers and the Tigers would have been pleased that they took nine points home from the encounter.
In midweek action NSWIS Girls split the points at three each with Sydney Tigers but then, in Round 6 catch-up matches, Sydney United gabbed all six points. Meanwhile, Sutherland Sharks took the full ration of points from NSWIS Boys.
Grade 13
The competition leaders have established a handy buffer but there or only six points separating the next six teams and that may be just a bit too close for comfort for some of them.
West Sydney Berries maintained their competition leading margin of six points when they were 3-2 winners over third place Bonnyrigg White Eagles and Sydney Olympic are still second after they posted a 2-0 win over Marconi Stallions who have fallen back one place to sixth.
Manly United dropped back to fifth when they suffered a 1-0 loss to eighth placed Sydney United while Wollongong FC flew from sixth to fourth with a 2-0 success over tenth placed Sydney Tigers.
Blacktown City Demons remained at seventh following their 2-0 win over eleventh placed Bankstown City and Sutherland Sharks are still ninth after they were 1-0 winners over Penrith Nepean United.
Grade 14
The top two teams have established a mini-break and then the next two are locked together but then the next six teams have only six points separating them.
Marconi Stallions have retained the competition lead by a margin of three points after they produced a 2-1 victory over ninth placed Sydney Olympic while second placed Blacktown City Demons posted a 1-0 win over Bankstown City who have dropped back one place to thirteenth.
Sutherland Sharks remained at third following their 2-0 win over Penrith Nepean United who have slipped back one position to sixth and Manly United are still fourth after they were 1-0 winners over Sydney United who have dropped one place to seventh. Sydney United added three points to their tally with a 2-0 win over NSWIS Girls in a Round 6 catch-up game and that has left them at sixth.
Sydney Tigers scooted up two places to fifth thanks to their 2-1 midweek win over tenth placed NSWIS Girls and their triumph by the odd goal in seven in a genuine thriller over eighth placed Wollongong FC.  Bonnyrigg White Eagles climbed two places to eleventh when they won 1-0 over West Sydney Berries who fell back one place to twelfth.
Grade 15
The top two teams have a buffer of five points on their nearest rivals and then there are only six points covering the next six teams so there is bound to be plenty of interest in the results over the next few weeks.
Blacktown City Demons fell back to second spot when they held to a 2-2 draw by Bankstown City who have slipped back two places to eleventh while Marconi Stallions grabbed the competition lead on goal difference with a 2-0 win over seventh placed Sydney Olympic.
Manly United remained at third when they were 3-1 winners over fourth placed Sydney United who also posted a 5-1 victory over NSWIS Girls in a Round 6 catch-up match. Wollongong FC are still fifth despite their 2-1 loss to Sydney Tigers who have moved up one place to tenth after they lost their midweek match against NSWIS Girls with a 1-0 scoreline, the first win for the Girls this season. 
Sutherland Sharks are one point outside the top five at sixth following their 2-1 loss to eighth placed Penrith Nepean United while West Sydney Berries climbed one place to ninth when they registered a 2-0 success over twelfth placed Bonnyrigg White Eagles.
Grade 16
The top four teams are within a range of three points but then the remaining eight teams are covered by a blanket of only seven points so, with such a long way to go, anything could still happen.
Wollongong FC saw their competition lead cut to two points when they went down 3-1 to sixth placed Sydney Tigers while second placed Blacktown City Demons missed the opportunity to at least draw level with the leaders after they were held to a 1-1 draw by seventh placed Bankstown City.
Manly United slipped back to fourth following their 2-0 loss to Sydney United who have leapfrogged the northern beaches outfit into third position and West Sydney Berries have hung onto fifth place even though they lost 2-0 to Bonnyrigg White Eagles who jumped two places to eighth.
Sydney Olympic are still seventh after they posted a 2-0 win over Marconi Stallions who have dropped back one place to tenth while Penrith Nepean United rose one place to eleventh following their 1-0 win over Sutherland Sharks who dropped from eighth to ninth.
Grade 18
The top two teams have a small break on their pursuers but then there are only separating third from eighth so there are likely to be many changes in the pecking order over the next few weeks.
Wollongong FC are four points clear at the top of the table after they won a thriller by the odd goal in seven over Sydney Tigers who have slipped back one place to eleventh while second placed Sutherland Sharks made up some of the leeway with a 4-3 midweek win over twelfth placed NSWIS Boys and then they backed that up with a 4-0 victory over Penrith Nepean United who have fallen back one place to tenth.
West Sydney Berries are four points further back at third after they were 1-0 winners over thirteenth placed Bonnyrigg White Eagles and fourth placed Manly United lost 2-1 to Sydney United who jumped two places to ninth.
Blacktown City Demons rose one place to fifth following their 1-1 draw with seventh placed Bankstown City while Marconi Stallions fell back to sixth when they lost 3-1 to eighth placed Sydney Olympic.
-By Barry Davis