Division One Youth League End of Season Review

The Division One Youth League has been one of the most competitive I can remember. The levels of skill, tactical awareness, determination and passion have rarely been higher and the entertainment value has been superb, as always and the composition of the finals series was only decided in the final matches of the season in most age groups.
Whether or not your team has been successful is far too frequently measured in terms of the points they have collected. However, your own measure of success should take the form of questions about whether or not the team and the individual players improved over the course of the season. The most frequent answer to this question will be ?yes? and so the season can be regarded as successful, no matter where your team ended on the competition table.
Now it is time to look back on Season 2010.
Club Championship
Fraser Park were the Club Champions, winning the title by twenty-one points and that meant that they had collected 67% of the maximum number of points. They were marginally more successful when they played away from home. They got off to a good start before taking the lead on this table from Round 4 and they never looked back despite some pressure being applied from behind. They were represented by all five teams in the finals series.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers finished the competition as runners-up on this table after they bagged 60% of the available points. There was very little difference between their home and away results. The Rangers occupied fifth place over the first seven rounds and then they clawed their way up the ladder over the remainder of the season. They had four teams in the finals series.
Camden Tigers were in third position after they had taken 55% of the points and there was a minimal difference between their home and away results. The Tigers were in second spot for the first thirteen rounds and then they slipped back slightly. Two of their teams qualified for the finals series.
Stanmore Hawks grabbed 54% of the available points to finish in fourth position and there was no difference between their home and away results. The Hawks enjoyed a very healthy start to the season and then they slipped back before rallying to secure a place amongst the top five clubs. They had two teams in the finals series.
St George ended the season in fifth place and they had taken 53% of the points on offer. They were just a bit better performed when they played away from home. The Saints started slowly but they gradually built their momentum to be sure of taking a place in the top group of clubs.
Gladesville Ryde Magic finished in sixth place with 51% of the points to show for their collective efforts. Their best results came from their home fixtures. Magic did not have the best of starts but they held a place in the top five from Round 4 to Round 11 before slipping back very slightly for the remainder of the season. Three of their teams played in the finals series.
Hakoah Maccabi took 45% of the points from their fixtures to end the season in seventh spot and they were better performed when they played away from home. They enjoyed a reasonably good start before falling back to a comfortable mid-table position. They had one team in the finals series.
Hurstville City Minotaurs ended up in eighth place with 38% of the points in their pockets and that was a very good outcome for a club that did not have a home ground all season. The Minotaurs showed some early promise but then they settled into a place in the middle of the table.
Southern Branch completed the competition in ninth place after they earned 32% of the available points. Southern were slightly better performed when they played away from home. They were always among the bottom three clubs and they did not have a team in the finals series.
Springwood United took 30% of the points on offer and they were placed at tenth at the end of the competition. Their best results came from their away fixtures. They struggled this season and they spent the competition at the bottom end of the table.
Hills Brumbies finished up in the wooden spoon position with 30% of the points to show for their collective efforts. There was very little difference between their home and away results. They found it difficult to keep pace this season and they were always at the bottom end of the table.
Grade 13
Mt Druitt Town Rangers were crowned Premiers after they on the competition by a margin of twelve points thanks to their record of eighteen victories. They were unbeaten away from home and that was slightly better than their record in their home matches. The Rangers were always inside the top five and they claimed the top spot from Round 9 onward. The won the Major Semi Final but then they went down in the Grand Final.
Stanmore Hawks were the runners-up with thirteen wins and three draws coming from their matches. There was no difference between their home and away results. The Hawks maintained a top five position throughout the season and they were locked into second spot from Round 11. They won the Preliminary Semi Final, lost the Major Semi Final and won the Preliminary Final before going on to win the Grand Final.
Fraser Park finished in third place after they recorded eleven wins and six draws and they were a bit better performed when they played away from home. They led the way on the table for the first eight rounds and then they dropped off the pace after that. They lost the Preliminary Semi Final, won the Minor Semi Final and then lost the Preliminary Final.
Gladesville Ryde Magic were placed fourth with twelve wins and two draws coming from their matches. They were marginally better performed when they played away from home. Magic maintained a place in the top five throughout the season, moving between third and fifth. They won the Elimination semi Final but then they lost the Minor Semi Final.
St George finished in fifth pace after they posted eleven wind and four draws and they had slightly better results when they played away from home. The Saints were locked into the top five all season, moving between third and fifth. They bowed out of the finals series when they lost the Elimination Semi Final.
Camden Tigers missed a place in the finals by thirteen points when they ran sixth with seven wins and three draws coming from their matches. They achieved better results when they played away from home. The Tigers showed some early promise as they were in and out of the top five over the first thirteen rounds and then they dropped off the pace.
Hills Brumbies were placed seventh with five wins and eight draws to show for their efforts. They were better performed when they played at home. The Brumbies sat in a comfortable mid-table position all season without seriously challenging the top group.
Southern Branch ended up in eighth position after they recorded six wins and three draws. Their results were better when they played away from home. Southern remained in the middle of the table all season.
Springwood United registered three wins and seven draws on their way to claiming ninth place and they were significantly better performed when they played away from home. Springwood spent the competition camped at the lower end of the table.
Hakoah Maccabi posted three wins and four draws to finish in tenth position and they were a bit better off in their away matches. They showed they could match it in the early part of the season but they could not sustain that form and so they slowly fell down the ladder.
Hurstville City Minotaurs recorded only one win over the course of the season and they finished in the wooden spoon position. They were at the foot of the table all season.
Grade 14 
Mt Druitt Town Rangers won the competition by a single point and that was enough for them to be crowned as Premiers. They had fifteen wins and a draw to show for their efforts and they were slightly better off when they played at home. The Rangers had a sluggish start to the season but they gradually built on the points tally to take the competition lead in Round 8 and they hung on to it from there on in. They lost the Major Semi Final and then won the Preliminary Final before going on to win the Grand Final.
Hurstville City Minotaurs were the competition runners-up after they recorded thirteen wins and six draws and that was an outstanding outcome considering they did not have a home ground. The Minotaurs led the table until Round 8 when they dropped back to second but they were always challenging the leaders. The won the Preliminary Semi Final and then they took out the Major Semi Final but then they lost the Grand Final.
Southern Branch registered thirteen wins and two draws on their way to securing third place and they were slightly better performed when they played away from home. Southern held down a top five position throughout the season and they were always in a position to challenge the teams ahead of them. They lost the Preliminary semi Final and then the bowed out of the finals when they lost the Minor Semi Final.
Fraser Park ended the competition in fourth place after they had eleven wins and five draws. Their best results came from the matches they played away from home. They were always found inside the top five but they were never better placed than third. They won the Elimination Semi Final and won the Minor Semi Final and then they dropped out of the finals when they lost the Preliminary Final.
St George finished fifth with nine wins and five draws coming from their matches. They were better performed when they played away from home. The Saints spent the first half of the season staying in touch with the top group before moving into fifth place from Round 11 onward. They bowed out of the finals series when they lost the Elimination Semi Final.
Stanmore Hawks were placed sixth and they missed a place in the final by a margin of eleven points. They posted five wins and six draws and there was very little difference between their home and away results. The Hawks showed some early promise but then they fell back to a mid-table position.
Hills Brumbies registered six wins and three draws to end up in seventh spot and they were a lot better off when they played away from home. The Brumbies spent the first three rounds among the top company but they faded away after reaching those heights.
Camden Tigers were eighth after they had five wins and five draws to show for their efforts and they were marginally better performed when they played away from home. The Tigers were in the top group for the first eleven rounds and then they faded in the second half of the season.
Gladesville Ryde Magic finished in ninth place on goal difference with a record of five wins and five draws and they achieved their best results when they played at home. Magic spent the season in various mid-table positions.
Hakoah Maccabi were placed tenth after they posted six wins and two draws and they were better performed in their away matches. They spent the majority of the season in the lower half of the table.
Springwood United ended the season in the wooden spoon position after they registered one win and two draws with all their points coming from away matches. They were at the foot of the table for most of the season.
Grade 15
Hakoah Maccabi finished the season five points clear of their nearest rivals and so they were crowned Premiers with sixteen wins and a draw to show for their efforts. Their best results came from matches they played away from home.  They led the way for the first four rounds, dropped back a bit but remained in the top five and then they resumed the lead from Round 15 onward. They lost the Major Semi Final, won the Preliminary final and then they went down in the Grand Final.
Stanmore Hawks finished in second spot with fourteen wins and two draws on their record and they were marginally better performed in their away matches. The Hawks remained in the top five all season, occupying positions from second to fifth at various times. They won the Preliminary Semi Final and won the Major Semi Final before going on to win the Grand Final.
Fraser Park were placed third after they posted twelve wins and five draws with their best results coming from their home matches. They were at the top end of the table for the first fifteen rounds but they fell off the pace from that point onward. They lost the Preliminary Semi Final and then they bowed out of the finals when they lost the Minor Semi Final.
Gladesville Ryde Magic ended the competition in fourth position after they had registered nine wins and four draws and they were much better performed when they played at home. Magic held onto a position in the top five all season, occupying places second to fifth at various times. They went out of the finals series when they lost the Elimination Semi Final.
Springwood United produced eight wins and four draws to complete the competition in fifth place and they came up with their best results when they played away from home. The sat in the middle of the table for most of the season and then they made a late run to take fifth position in the final game of the campaign. They won the Elimination Semi final and then won the Minor Semi Final before they bowed out with a loss in the Preliminary Final.
Camden Tigers were in sixth place after they missed a place in the finals on the basis of goals scored. They had seven wins and seven draws to show for their efforts and they were slightly better off when they played at home. The Tigers maintained a spot in the top five all season until they stumbled in the closing weeks of the competition.
St George finished in seventh spot with a record of six wins and eight draws and their best results came from their home matches. The found a position in the middle of the table and only occasionally threatened the top group.
Southern Branch had come up with five wins and six draws to be placed eighth and they were marginally better performed when they played away from home. They spent most of the season in a comfortable mid-table position without really applying any pressure to the teams ahead of them.
Hills Brumbies ended the competition in ninth place after they posted five wins and two draws. They had their best results when they played at home. After a reasonable start, the Brumbies spent most of the season among the bottom three teams.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers recorded two wins and five draws to be placed tenth and their away games produced marginally their best results. They spent a large part of the season at the bottom end of the table.
Hurstville City Minotaurs were in the wooden spoon position after they had one win and six draws from their season. They remained at the bottom of the table all year.
Grade 16
Camden Tigers end the competition two points clear of their nearest rivals and so they were crowned Premiers with a record of thirteen wins and four draws. They best results were achieved in their home games where they remained unbeaten. The Tigers spent the season in the top three and they claimed the top spot with three rounds remaining. They lost the Major Semi Final and then they bowed out when they lost the Preliminary Final.
Fraser Park were the runners-up and they had produced eleven wins and eight draws with their best results coming from an unbeaten run in their home games. They were always one of the top two teams and they led the way for most of the season before slipping back to second spot for the last three rounds. The won the Preliminary Semi Final and then they won the Major Semi Final before going on to win the Grand Final.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers produced a record of ten wins and four draws to claim third position and they were better performed when they played at home. After a sluggish start the Rangers gradually collected enough points to take over third place for the last four rounds of the competition. They lost the Preliminary Semi Final, won the Minor Semi Final and won the Preliminary Final before going down in the Grand Final.
Hurstville City Minotaurs finished in fourth place after they posted eight wins and eight draws and that was a very good outcome for a team that did not have a home ground. They occupied every place from first to fourth over the course of the season. They won the Elimination Semi Final and then they lost the Minor Semi Final
Springwood United registered eight wins and five draws to finish in fifth position with their best results coming from their home games. They spent most of the season applying pressure to the top five before qualifying for the finals in the last game of the competition. They bowed out of the finals when they lost the Elimination Semi Final.
Stanmore Hawks missed a place in the finals by a single point when they finished in sixth spot with seven wins and seven draws to their credit. There was no difference between their home and away results. The Hawks had been in the top group for most of the season but they slipped up over the closing weeks of the season.
St George ended the competition in seventh spot after they posted six wins and five draws and they were significantly better performed when they played at home. The Saints seemed to be content with a mid-table position as they did not apply any real pressure to the teams above them.
Hakoah Maccabi registered five wins and seven draws to finish in eighth place and their best results came from the matches they played away from home. They showed some early promise by holding down a top five spot for the first ten rounds but then they fell off the pace. 
Gladesville Ryde Magic were placed ninth with six wins and four draws to show for their efforts and they had their best success in their away games. Magic remained in a comfortable mid-table position all season.
Hills Brumbies completed the season in tenth place after they registered five wins and a draw with their greatest success coming when they played away from home. The Brumbies were always found at the bottom end of the table.
Southern Branch were in the wooden spoon position with three wins and three draws and they were marginally better performed when they played at home. They occupied last place for the majority of the competition.
Grade 18
Camden Tigers were crowned Premiers when they ended the competition seven points clear of their nearest rivals thanks to sixteen wins and two draws. Their best results came when they played at home where they were unbeaten. The Tigers had the best attacking and the best defensive figures in this age group and they led the way all season. They lost the Major Semi Final and then won the Preliminary Final before going down in the Grand Final.
Gladesville Ryde Magic were the runners-up after they registered thirteen wins and four draws and they had much better results when they played at home. They spent most of the season moving back and forth between second and third before some late success saw them secure second spot. The lost the Preliminary Semi Final, won the Minor Semi Final and then lost the Preliminary Final.
Fraser Park recorded thirteen wins and two draws to finish in third place and they were slightly better performed when they played away from home. They spent the season as one of the top three teams. They won the Preliminary Semi Final and then they won the Major Semi final before going on to win the Grand Final.
St George secured fourth place on goal difference with twelve wins and five draws and their best results came from their away games. They were inside the top five throughout the season. They bowed out of the finals series when they lost the Elimination Semi Final.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers finished in fifth place thanks to eleven wins and a draw and they were slightly better performed when they played at home. The Rangers moved in and out of the top five before securing fifth position over the last two matches of the competition. They won the Elimination Semi Final abut then they lost the Minor Semi Final.
Hakoah missed out on the finals series by a margin of two points after their ten wins and two draws left them in sixth spot. There was no difference between their home and away results. They retained a mid-table position over the first half of the season and then they were in and out of the top five for the second half, missing a place in the last two rounds of the competition.
Stanmore Hawks ended up in seventh place after they posted eight wins and two draws and they were slightly better off when they played at home. The Hawks spent the first half of the season among the top company but they fell off the pace during the second half of the competition.
Hurstville City Minotaurs were placed eighth on goal difference after they produced eight wins and two draws. This was a reasonably good outcome for a team that did not have a home ground. They held down a mid-table position for the duration of the competition without seriously challenging the top group of teams.
Hills Brumbies finished in ninth place with four wins and a draw to show for their efforts and there was very little difference between their home and away results. The brumbies occupied a comfortable mid-table position for most of the season.
Springwood United recorded three wins and a draw to be placed at tenth and they were slightly better performed when they played away from home. After showing some early promise they lingered in the lower half of the table for the majority of the season.
Southern Branch were in the wooden spoon position after they posted two draws for the season. They seriously struggled to come to grips with the demands of the competition.
 -By Barry Davis