Division One Youth League Round 7 Review

Fraser Park are beginning to dominate proceedings but it really is early days and they will know that they must maintain and probably improve on their current standards if they are to remain at the top at the business end of the season.
Club Championship
Fraser Park not only continued to lead the way on this table but they stretched their margin to eighteen points when they managed to take all fifteen points at home to second placed Camden Tigers.
Stanmore Hawks moved up one place to third when they bagged ten points at home to Gladesville Ryde Magic who have fallen back one place to fourth while Mt Druitt Town Rangers have remained at fifth after they split the points at seven apiece when they visited sixth placed St George.
Hurstville City Minotaurs are still seventh after their trip to eleventh placed Southern Branch yielded eight points and Springwood United retained ninth place when they bagged eight points from their visit to tenth placed Hills Brumbies.
Hakoah remained at eighth after they had the bye this week.
Grade 13
Fraser Park stretched their unbeaten record to seven games and retained the competition lead by a margin of three points when they were 3-0 winners over sixth placed Camden Tigers. Fraser Park had taken a 2-0 lead to the break and then they managed to add another goal during the second stanza but it must be said that the Tigers made them work hard for it.
Second placed Stanmore Hawks took their winning run to three matches when they produced a 1-0 victory over fifth placed Gladesville Ryde Magic who saw their two game winning streak come to a halt.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers remained at third and St George are still fourth after the Rangers came up with a 1-0 victory that took their run of success to three games and halted the Saints? four match winning streak.
Seventh placed Hills Brumbies posted their third draw for the season when their match against Springwood United was locked at 0-0 when the final whistle sounded. That gave the mountain men their first point for the season but they have fallen back one place to tenth.
Southern Branch rose one place to ninth when they registered their first win for the season, a 2-0 result over eleventh placed Hurstville City Minotaurs who have now lost all seven matches they have played.
Hakoah had the bye this week and they have slipped back one place to eighth.
Grade 14
Hurstville City Minotaurs extended their unbeaten run to three games but had their competition leading margin reduced to a single point when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Southern Branch who had lost their previous two matches. Southern have slipped back one place to fifth.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers took their winning sequence to five matches and moved up one place to second with a 2-0 result over St George who have dropped back one spot to ninth.
Camden Tigers fell from second to third after their four match unbeaten run came to an end when they went down 3-1 to Fraser Park who have jumped one place to fourth. Camden had taken a fourth minute lead but Fraser Park bounced back with three goals over the next eighteen minutes to register a 3-1 half-time score. Despite chance falling in equal measure at both ends of the ground there was to be no addition to the score after the break.
Hills Brumbies remained at sixth following their scoreless draw with eleventh placed Springwood United who were earning their first point for the season.
Stanmore Hawks jumped two places to seventh thanks to a 2-1 victory over Gladesville Ryde Magic who have slipped back one place to eighth.
Tenth placed Hakoah had the bye this week.
Grade 15
Unbeaten Fraser Park maintained their lead of two points at the top of the table when they were 2-1 winners over fourth placed Camden Tigers who were suffering their second successive loss. The Tigers got off to bright start when they scored an early goal but Fraser Park fought back and they were rewarded with an equaliser one minute before the interval. Immediately after the break Fraser Park took the score to 2-1 and then they had to repel several strong attacking moves from the Tigers to keep the scoreline where it was.
Gladesville Ryde Magic took their winning sequence to five games and climbed one place to third with a 4-2 result over Stanmore Hawks who have slipped back one place to third.
Hakoah retained fifth place after they had the bye this week.
Springwood United recovered from last week?s loss and they are still placed sixth following their 4-1 victory over ninth placed Hills Brumbies for whom this was a third successive defeat.
St George retained seventh spot with their second win in as many weeks, this time a 2-1 result over Mt Druitt Town Rangers who have fallen back one place to eleventh.
Southern Branch climbed one place to eight when they took their unbeaten run to four games thanks to a 2-2 with Hurstville City Minotaurs who have moved up one place to tenth.
Grade 16
Undefeated Fraser Park doubled their competition leading margin to two points when they were 2-0 winners over Camden Tigers who have fallen back one place to third. Fraser Park drew first blood in the ninth minute when a slick left flank move was finished with a fine strike and then they were 2-0 ahead five minutes later when they converted a hotly contested spot kick. The Tigers did well to keep the score to 2-0 as they were up against a better team on the day.
With three wins and then three draws to show for their efforts before this week Hurstville City Minotaurs rose one place to second when they produced a 1-0 win over eleventh placed Southern Branch who have yet to collect a point from this campaign.
Stanmore Hawks scooted from seventh to fourth thanks to a 1-0 result over eighth placed Gladesville Ryde Magic while Hakoah fell back one place to be fifth after they had the bye this week.
Springwood United dropped one place to sixth when they suffered a 1-0 loss to tenth placed Hills Brumbies who were making their debut in the winners? circle.
St George are still in ninth position after they produced a stunning 4-0 victory over Mt Druitt Town Rangers who have slipped back one spot to seventh.
Grade 18
In an absolute thriller Fraser Park grabbed the competition lead on goal difference with a 2-1 victory over Camden Tigers who are now on second spot. Fraser Park started the game like a house on fire and they took the lead after only twenty seconds when a speculative shout from outside the penalty area found the back of the net despite the best diving efforts from the Camden ?keeper. Then the home team made it 2-0 when they finished off a slick passing move but the Tigers were far from a spent force and they clawed their way back to 2-1 moments before the interval when an unstoppable low drive skimmed the inside of the far post to find the net at take the score to 2-1. Throughout the second half the Tigers were dominant but they found it difficult to break down a resolute defensive effort. Camden were awarded a penalty kick but a fine save denied them an equaliser that many observers thought they deserved.
Unbeaten Gladesville Ryde Magic retained third place after they were held to a 1-1 draw by sixth placed Stanmore Hawks who had lost their previous three outings.
St George are still in fourth position following their 2-2 draw with fifth placed Mt Druitt Town Rangers and Hurstville City Minotaurs remained at seventh thanks to a 2-0 win over eleventh placed Southern Branch who are yet to pick up their first point for this season.
Springwood United jumped one place to eighth when they were 2-1 winners over tenth placed Hills Brumbies and Hakoah fell back one place to ninth when they had the bye this week.
-By Barry Davis