Northern Tigers roar to 2010 Super League Championship success
New Central Coast Mariners National Youth League star Max Glanville stole the show with a man of the match performance scoring a hatrick in what set the scene for a scorching Tigers display.
Despite a nervy opening few minutes, it was always likely that the Tigers would win this one, looking a lot more in control of the ball throughout the match and dominating large passages of play while for St George, it seemed very early on that it just wasn?t going to be their day. In fact, the Saints probably saved one of their worst performances of the year for Grand Final Day.
As always, the Tigers fielded their first choice eleven while Andrew Heath came in for the suspended Saints captain, Simon Verrender. But it was the Tigers who led the way, Glanville showing signs of what was to come with his first shot of the game after just ten minutes. Two minutes later, and he was to make St George pay for some poor defending when he got the ball over the line in a scramble, the Saints not being able to clear.
By twenty minutes, Glanville had put Northern Tigers 2-0 up. A slide rule pass from Tom Spencer, across the Saints defence, fell perfectly for the gun youngster who smashed the ball into the goal for his second.
Even by this early stage, you sensed that the Tigers had it won already. Nothing seemed to go St George?s way, each loose ball falling the way of the Tigers, who certainly looked the sharper. St George?s first decent chance didn?t come until just after the half hour mark but Denis Cutura could not quite connect when in the box. Peter Crevani crossed sublimely not long after but his firm ball evaded all, including the onrushing Christian Cevenini.
Tigers keeper Stuart Page didn?t have a lot to do to this point but he was at his best when he got down low to his right, just touching away David Smith?s long range strike. It was the closest the Saints got to a goal during a tough first half.
Things didn?t auger well for St George either when Andrew Heath earned a red card as the first half ticked down, an of the ball incident with Sungyun Park resulting in an early departure. Two goals down and one player down would certainly test St George?s mettle. The loss of an injured Juan Chavez after forty minutes also meant a reshuffled line-up.
But to their credit, St George did improve, at least in the early stages of the second half. They almost pulled one back when a Cevenini header was tipped onto the bar by Page. Ivo de Jesus worked hard as he looked to create the openings but again, it was to be the Tigers who were to gain the upper hand. Paul Davies broke through down the right and should have done better than blasting well over but this warning signal wasn?t heeded.
And so it was Glanville again.
After turning David Smith, Glanville found the way to goal one more time, slotting away past Daniel Nash for his hat trick, just after an hour had passed.
By this time, the possibility was there that things could get nasty for St George, the way the Tigers were playing. Glanville left the field, perhaps to the relief of the Saints, to be replaced by the experienced Luke Tomich.
But while Glanville was gone, Tomich just took his place. After just five minutes or so of coming on, he beat Nash to the ball well outside the area, and then had the simplest of tasks in slipping the ball into an empty net to make it 4-0. He should have made it five too but in a similar chance, was this time wide of the post. A well taken half volley from a corner, also, was just cleared as the Tigers turned the screws.
In the end, the score-line remained at 4-0, coincidentally the same result as St George?s last Grand Final appearance. But on that occasion, they had beaten APIA-Leichhardt 4-0 in the 1987 NSL Grand Final, this time they were on the receiving end.
It was a deserving result for Northern Tigers, their first championship in their short history.
?It is very, very satisfying,? stated Jason Eagar. ?We were a little bit nervous for the first five minutes or so but then we started to play some really nice stuff?.
?It was very comfortable. We expected St George to be hard and physical but to be honest, it was not the best St George we have seen this year?.
?And I don?t think the send off made that much difference. We were still a bit worried, remembering our semi final of a few weeks ago when they also had a send off, and won. We talked about that at half time and made sure it didn?t affect the way we would play?.
To view the Super League Grade 20s Full match report between Parramatta Eagles v St George click here.
Match Stats
Northern Tigers 4 (Max Glanville 12?, 19?, 63?, Luke Tomich 74?)
St George 0
12 September 2010
Lily Homes Stadium, Seven Hills
Referee: Kevin Peddie
Assts: Nick Backo and Steven Nguyen
Northern Tigers: 1. Stuart Page 12. Rhys Williams 2. Travis Oughtred 4. Michael Rolston 3. Tom Geekie 6. Paul Davies (c) 14. Brendan Salameh (11. Danny Vukovic 68?) 16. Steve Baveas 8. Max Glanville (17. Luke Tomich 69?) 7. Tom Spencer 10. Sungyun Park (15. Lucas Dawson 82?)
Subs not used: 9. Tom Mackay 36. Marc Messina
Coach: Jason Eagar
Yellow cards: Max Glanville and Brendan Salameh
St George: 1. Daniel Nash 14. Blake Ricciuto 2. David Smith 23. Michael Smith 24. Aram Derakzala 17. Christian Cevenini (8. Brad Gibson 66?) 12. Hussein Rachid (c) (4. Arthur Diles 56?) 13. Andrew Heath 11. Peter Crevani 9. Juan Chavez (25. Ivo de Jesus 40?) 10. Denis Cutura.
Subs not used: 19. Daniel Fallico 20. Costa Dadonna
Coach: Nick Orlic
Yellow cards: Denis Cutura
Red card: Andrew Heath
Player Ratings
Northern Tigers
Stuart Page Rarely called upon but up to the task when needed 7
Rhys Williams Solid on the right and made some trademark run 7
Travis Oughtred Safe as houses at the back, always in control 8
Michael Rolston Dependable and led the backline well 7
Tom Geekie Looked to get forward, never forgot defensive duties 7
Paul Davies Dangerous out wide, good chance to score 7
Brendan Salameh Controlled midfield, dominating central area 8
Steven Baveas With Salameh, worked hard in midfield, limiting space for opposition 8
Max Glanville Football NSW Man of the Match, hat trick king, his speed always a problem for St George 9
Tom Spencer A little quieter today than normal but sublime pass for second goal 7
Sungyun Park Skilful and led the line well, worked very hard all game 8
Luke Tomich One goal, almost another. Impressive twenty minutes 7
Danny Vukovic Covered for Salameh, filled in nicely 7
St George
Daniel Nash Rash judgement for fourth goal, couldn?t be held liable for Glanville?s hat trick 6
Blake Ricciuto Unfortunate to be up against an on fire Glanville, but never gave up 6
Michael Smith Battled away, worked hard all game 6
David Smith Had best St George effort on goal. Beaten for Glanville?s third 6
Aram Derakzala Up against Paul Davies, hands full 6
Peter Crevani Some good crosses but too few 6
Hussein Rachid Stand in captain, battled away against strong Tigers midfield 6
Andrew Heath Red card in first half, behind play. Left team undermanned 5
Christian Cevenini Chances limited. Worked hard down right but few opportunities. Replaced injured 6
Juan Chavez Departed injured, little opportunity to impress 6
Denis Cutura Difficult job up front, at times alone, well marshalled by Tigers backline 6
Ivo de Jesus Looked to create chances, showed some good touches 7
Arthur Diles With de Jesus, looked to create spark. Some good passes 6
Brad Gibson On for final half hour. Hard to impress when game already gone 6
-By Peter Rowney
