The Youth League Report (Premier Youth League) Round 18

Places in the finals series are still up for grabs in every competition and there is still plenty of room for the so-called upset results to cause problems for teams with their hearts set on reaching the play-offs.
There were a few catch-up games played and those results are covered in the various age group reports.
Overview
The last time Marconi Stallions faced Wollongong FC the Wolves bagged twelve points and while that may have been a bit of a shock at the time, the lads from the south coast have since proven that it was certainly not a fluke. However, the Stallions showed that they are far from a spent force when they reversed that situation by taking a dozen points this time.
Two catch-up matches from Round 12 resulted in Marconi Stallions gathering another six points against Penrith Nepean United.
Blacktown City Demons earned ten points from their first round encounter with Sydney Olympic and they upped the ante this time when they took twelve points from the fixture.
In catch-up action from Round 16 Blacktown City Demons collected nine points from the four matches played against Sydney Tigers.
Manly United had taken eleven points from their first round matches against Penrith Nepean United and this week the northern beaches lads added another nine points to their tally.
Manly played four catch-up matches from Round 14 against West Sydney Berries and they gained another seven points while the Berries took four points from the encounter.
In the first round Sydney United made off with eleven points from their meeting with Sydney Tigers and that trend continued this time as United grabbed ten points from the day.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles pocketed eight points when they played against Bankstown City last time around and the White Eagles showed some improvement when they earned twelve points this week.
West Sydney Berries showed a profit of ten points from their first round clash with Sutherland Sharks but this time the Sharks gained the upper hand when they took seven points from the four matches played on the day.
Grade 13
There was no change in the order of the teams on the table this week but it now seems that the current top seven will fight it out for places in the finals. Of the rest, only the eighth placed Demons have a chance but they must win all three of their catch-up games and continue to collect points from the scheduled matches.
Sydney Olympic came into this game as the competition frontrunners and they had posted a draw and a win from their last two matches while eighth placed Blacktown City Demons had registered similar result from their last two outings. Olympic had taken the first round points with a 4-1 result and they completed the double when they posted a 2-1 win this time around.
The rescheduled Round 16 match between Blacktown City Demons and Sydney Tigers was postponed.
West Sydney Berries began the day in second spot after last week?s draw had ended a run of two losses and ninth placed Sutherland Sharks were coming off a last match win. The first round points had gone to the Berries when they won 1-0 and they returned to the winners? circle this week as they completed the double with a 4-2 result.
In a Round 14 catch-up match the Berries drew 1-1 with Manly United, an outcome that left the Berries at second, elevated Manly to sixth and pushed Sydney United back to seventh.
Wollongong FC kicked off this week?s match in third position after they had followed three wins with last week?s loss while Marconi Stallions were fourth with losses from their last two games. The Wolves had bagged the first round points with a 4-2 victory but the Stallions squared the account this week when they were 2-1 winners.
In a Round 12 catch-up match Marconi Stallions were 3-0 winners over Penrith Nepean United, a result that has moved the Stallions up to third and pushed the Wolves back to fourth.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles started the day in fifth place thanks to draws in two of their last four matches and Bankstown City were eleventh with a win and a draw from their last two outings. Their first round clash ended at 1-1 but Bonnyrigg grabbed all the points this time when they won the match 1-0.
Sydney United were in sixth spot at kick-off time following an unbeaten run of three games and Sydney Tigers were tenth after last week?s draw. The first round encounter was a scoreless draw but on this occasion the points went to United when they produced a 1-0 victory.
Manly United arrived at this match at seventh after they had suffered a loss last week and tenth placed Penrith Nepean United were unbeaten in their last four games. The first round match was a scoreless draw but Manly scooped up all the points this week when they came up with a 1-0 win.
Grade 14
The fact that the only changes to the appearance of the table this week were in the middle section has made it a bit more difficult to see the final composition of the top five as any of the top nine teams can still make it and that will add plenty of interest to the result over the next few weeks.
Sutherland Sharks kicked off this week?s match as the competition leaders thanks to a last game win and West Sydney Berries were tenth after they had remained unbeaten in their last three outings. The Sharks were 3-0 winners in the first round and they repeated that scoreline this week to complete the double.
In a Round 14 catch-up match the Berries were 1-0 winners over Manly United but the result did not affect the position of either team.
In a Round 12 catch-up match the Berries were defeated 1-0 by the eleventh placed NSWIS Girls who lost 5-0 to Sutherland Sharks in Round 22 catch-up action.
Blacktown City Demons were in second spot before a ball was kicked after winning last week and Sydney Olympic were ninth following an unbeaten sequence of three games. The Demons had taken the first round points with a 2-1 result and while it was close again this time, the Demons prevailed to post a 1-0 victory.
In a Round 16 catch-up match Sydney Tigers produced a 1-0 win over the Demons.
Marconi Stallions began the day in third place following last week?s loss while fifth placed Wollongong FC were coming off a last game win. The first round points had gone to the Wolves when they won 4-1 but the Stallions got even this time when they registered a 1-0 success.
In a Round 12 catch-up match the Stallions registered a 2-1 victory over Penrith Nepean United and that allowed Marconi to rise to second spot, pushing the Demons back to third.
After a run of eight games without loss Sydney Tigers were placed fourth and Sydney United were sixth with a win and a draw to show for their last two matches. United had won the first round encounter 2-1 but the Tigers continued their recent success with a 2-0 result this week and that has dropped United back to seventh.
Sydney United had beaten eleventh placed NSWIS Girls 2-0 in the first round but the Institute reversed that situation this week when they registered a 4-1 victory.
Manly United started this match in seventh position with a win and a draw from their last two outings while eighth placed Penrith Nepean United had lost their last game. The first round clash was a scoreless draw but all the points went to Penrith this time when their 2-0 win moved them up to sixth and pushed Manly back to eighth.
At kick-off time Bonnyrigg White Eagles were in twelfth position and they had lost third last two games while thirteenth placed Bankstown City had lost their last four. The first round points had gone to Bonnyrigg with a 2-1 result and they completed the double this week when they were 4-0 winners.
Grade 15
After this week?s results it seems that the top three are sorting themselves out but the race for fifth, and possibly fourth, place is on in earnest as the team right down to ninth strive to reach a place in the finals series.
Blacktown City Demons were at the top of the competition table at the start of this game after they had remained unbeaten for five games and Sydney Olympic were eighth following a loss last week. The first round points went to the Demons when they won 2-1 and they went on with the job this week as they posted a very respectable 5-1 victory.
In a Round 16 catch-up match the Demons posted a 1-0 victory over Sydney Tigers and that only strengthened the Demons? position at the top of the table.
Unbeaten in their last seven games, Manly United were in second spot while sixth placed Penrith Nepean United were unbeaten for eight matches, the last three of which were wins. Manly were 1-0 winners in the first round clash and they extended their undefeated sequence with a 2-1 result this week.
In a Round 15 catch-up match Manly rolled west Sydney Berries with a solid 5-0 scoreline and both teams remained where there were on the table.
Third placed Marconi Stallions had tasted defeat only once this season and they had not lost in their last four games while seventh placed Wollongong FC had lost their last two matches. The Stallions were 2-0 winners in the first round and they repeated that scoreline this week
Sydney United kicked off this match in fourth place and they were coming off a last match win while tenth placed Sydney Tigers has lost their last two. United were the first round winners with a 3-0 scoreline and they completed the double when they won 3-1 this time around.
Sutherland Sharks were fifth before a ball was kicked and they had lost their last match while eleventh placed West Sydney Berries had lost their last five outings. When they met last time the Berries were 1-0 winners. This week?s match was postponed but that did not have an impact on the position of either team.
In a Round 12 catch-up match the Berries defeated the eleventh placed NSWIS Girls 1-0.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles came into this game in twelfth position after last week?s loss and Bankstown City were ninth following four consecutive losses. The Lions had grabbed the first round points with a 6-5 victory and while this week?s game was not quite the same sort of thriller, the Lions completed the double when they won 3-0.
Grade 16
There were a few cosmetic changes to the appearance of the table this week and they happened at both the top and bottom ends, leaving the middle bit pretty much as it was. The race is really on to secure a place in the finals and it seems that any of the top seven teams could still make it.
Starting the day as the competition leaders, Wollongong FC had remained unbeaten for their last three games and ninth placed Marconi Stallions had a win and a draw to show for their last two matches. The Wolves had won the first round clash 3-0 and they went on with the job with a 1-0 win that kept them in the top spot and forced the Stallions back to tenth.
Sydney United kicked of this game in second spot following an unbeaten sequence of eleven matches and Sydney Tigers were seventh after losing their last two games. The first round encounter was a 1-1 draw and when that scoreline was repeated this week United slipped back to third and the Tigers stayed at seventh.
Third placed Manly United had not been beaten in their last four games while eighth placed Penrith Nepean United 2-0 had lost their last two outings. Manly were 2-0 winners when the teams faced off last time and after they posted a 2-1 result this week they moved up to second and left Penrith at eighth.
In a Round 14 catch-up match Manly were far too good for West Sydney Berries as the recorded a 5-0 win but the result did not affect the position of either team.
Blacktown City Demons were placed fourth at kick-off time after they won last week while fifth placed Sydney Olympic had taken their unbeaten sequence to seven games. Olympic had taken the first round points with a 1-0 win but the Demons squared the account this week when they won 3-2 and that left both teams where they were on the table.
In a Round 16 catch-up match the Demons had a 2-1 success over Sydney Tigers and that result moved Blacktown into third position, pushing Sydney United back to fourth.
West Sydney Berries came into this game in sixth spot after a loss last time out and Sutherland Sharks were eleventh following losses in their last four matches. The first round outcome was a scoreless draw and on this occasion the team split the points once again, this time with a 1-1 scoreline. The Berries remained at sixth while the Sharks dropped back to twelfth.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles were placed twelfth after losses in their last six games while Bankstown City were tenth and they had won last week. The first round points went to Bonnyrigg when they won 1-0 and when they completed the double with another 1-0 win, the White Eagles climbed to ninth and the Lions slipped to eleventh.
In a Round 10 catch-up match Bonnyrigg drew 1-1 with Marconi.
Grade 18
It might be wise to fasten your safety belt as we are about to witness a helter-skelter race for places in the finals series as the top ten teams are all still capable of qualifying for one of those precious positions. There were a number of changes to the pecking order in the middle of the table and that points to the fact that anything could still happen.
Wollongong FC kicked off this match as the competition frontrunners after winning their last two games while Marconi Stallions were seventh with a win and a draw to show for their last two starts. The Wolves were 3-1 winners in the first round but the Stallions turned the tables on them this time with a 2-0 victory that took them up to fifth and left Wollongong at the top of the tree.
Blacktown City Demons were in second spot after their five match unbeaten run ended with a shock loss last week while Sydney Olympic were eighth and they were coming off a last game win. The first round clash was a 1-1 draw but on this occasion the Demons returned to the winners? circle with a 2-1 result that allowed them to retain second place but pushed Olympic back to ninth.
In a Round 16 catch-up match the Demons came up with a 2-1 win over Sydney Tigers but there was no impact on the position of either team.
Sutherland Sharks began the day in third place after last week?s draw and sixth placed West Sydney Berries had lost their last two matches. The Berries had claimed the first round points with a 5-1 win but the Sharks squared that account with a 2-0 result this time around and that caused the Berries to slip back to eighth.
Arriving at this game in fourth place, Manly United had lost their last game and ninth placed Penrith Nepean United had also suffered a loss last time out. Manly were 5-2 winners in the first round but Penrith reversed that situation this time with a 6-3 win that saw them climb to seventh. Manly are still fourth after they won a Round 17 catch-up match against Sydney Olympic with a 2-1 scoreline.
Fifth placed Bankstown City were coming off a last game win and eleventh placed Bonnyrigg White Eagles had won their last two matches. The first round game ended at 1-1. When the White Eagles won this week?s match 4-1 they remained at eleventh but the Lions slipped back to sixth.
Sydney Tigers were twelfth after losing their last three outings while Sydney United were tenth and they had remained unbeaten in their last three games. United were 2-1 winners last time the teams met and they repeated that scoreline this time around to leave both teams where they were on the table.

-By Barry Davis