Super Youth League End of Season Review

The Super 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 and club 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
Spirit FC claimed the title as Club Champions by a margin of twenty-six points and that represented 68% of the maximum number of points. They were a bit more successful when they played at home where they collected 75% of the maximum points while their away matches yielded 62% of the points. Spirit led the way on this table throughout the season. All five of their teams qualified for the finals series.
Sydney University were exceptionally well performed to finish in second spot when it is considered that they were only promoted to this level at the end of last season. They pocketed 62% of the maximum possible points and there was very little difference between their home and away results. They were represented by four teams in the finals series.
Dulwich Hill were three points behind Uni after they bagged 59% of the available points They achieved the same level of results no matter whether they played at home or away. Dully managed to hold onto a place in the top five all season and they had four teams playing in the finals series.
Mounties Wanderers finished thirty-six points further back in fourth place and they must have been very pleased about that outcome. They took 49% of the available points from their fixtures and they were slightly better performed when they played at home than they were in their away matches. Three of their teams reached the finals series.
Parramatta Eagles were one point behind the Wanderers in fifth position after they earned 48% of the maximum number of points. Their best result came when they played at home though they were only slightly better than their results in away fixtures. Parramatta had a sluggish start to the season but then they picked up momentum to secure a place in the top group. Three of their teams competed in the finals series.
Western NSW Panthers were three points further away at sixth after they collected 47% of the available points and there was no difference between their performances at home or away. The Panthers maintained good form all season and they were always applying pressure to the top group. They did not have a team in the finals series.
Central Coast Lightning completed the season seventeen points behind the Panthers after they bagged 43% of the total points. When they played at home they collected 52% of the points while their away matches earned them 34% of the points. Lightning flirted with the top five during the first half of the season and then they fell back to a comfortable mid-table position. Two of their teams played in the finals series.
Blacktown Spartans finished eighth, nine points behind Lightning, after they earned 41% of the available points. They were slightly better performed when they played at home where they took 44% of the points as opposed to 38% from their away fixtures. They did not have a team in the finals series.
Granville Rage were nine points further away at ninth after they took 38% of the points from their fixtures. The club was marginally better performed when they played away from home. Rage had a slow start to the season but they gradually climbed to a safe mid-table position. Only one of their teams qualified for the finals.
Northern Tigers finished tenth, one point behind Rage, thanks to the 37% of the available points going their way. Their performances at home were just a bit better than the results they earned when playing away fixtures. The Tigers started slowly but then climbed to mid-table before they slipped back into the danger zone. They had one team playing in the finals series.
Macarthur Rams were only two points back at eleventh after they earned 35% of the available points. Their results were slightly better when they played at home. The Rams spent the majority of the season under genuine threat of relegation but they saved themselves with a late surge of points. They were represented by only one team in the finals series.
Schofields Scorpions ended the season in the wooden spoon position, fifteen points behind the Rams. They earned 33% of the maximum points with their best results coming from their home fixtures. They did not have a team in the finals series.
Grade 13
Sydney University ended the competition as the Premiers after they finished eight points clear of their nearest rivals thanks to seventeen wins and two draws. They were marginally better performed when they played away from home. They had the best attacking figures and the best defensive figures in this age group. Uni spent all season inside the top three, losing only three times all season and leading the way for most of it. In the finals series they lost the Major Semi Final, won the Preliminary Final and then lost the Grand Final.
Spirit FC posted fourteen wins and three draws to end the competition in second spot. They recorded slightly better results when they played away from home. They remained in the top three all season, spending most of it in second position. Spirit lost the Preliminary Semi Final and then bowed out of the finals when they lost the Minor Semi Final.
Central Coast Lightning completed their competition commitments in third place thanks to their thirteen wins and two draws. Their best results came from their home matches. Lightning were always amongst the top group, applying constant pressure to the teams ahead of them. They won the Preliminary Semi Final, won the Major Semi Final and then they won the Grand Final.
Mounties Wanderers registered eleven wins and six draws to finish in fourth position. They were marginally better performed when they played away from home. The Mounties spent the majority of the season at fourth or fifth and applied consistent pressure to the teams ahead of them. In the finals series they won the Elimination Semi Final, won the Minor Semi Final and then they lost the Preliminary Final.
Dulwich Hill ended the season in fifth place after they had twelve victories and two draws. They achieved their best results by far when they played away from home. Dully had a slow start to the season as they did not win any of their first four matches. They pulled up their socks and entered the top five in Round 9 where they remained for the rest of the competition period. They bowed out of the finals when they lost the Elimination Semi Final.
Western NSW Panthers finished sixth and six points outside the top five after they recorded ten wins and two draws. They were much more successful when they played away from home. The Panthers were a bit inconsistent in the first half of the season but they found some form in the second half but it was not quite enough for them to claim a place in the finals.
Macarthur Rams were placed seventh with seven wins and four draws to show for their efforts. Their away matches yielded slightly better results for them. The Rams settled into a comfortable mid-table position for the season and they did not really threaten the top group.
Parramatta Eagles completed the season in eighth position on goal difference thanks to their seven wins and four draws. Their away results slightly shaded those they achieved when they played at home. The Eagles occupied a mid-table position all season.
Schofields Scorpions recorded six wins and five draws to finish up in ninth place and there was very little difference between their home and away results. After a reasonably strong start when they were placed in the top five for the first ten rounds, the Scorpions fell away to end up among the middle group of teams.
Northern Tigers were placed tenth on the final table for the season after they had six wins and four draws. There was no difference between their home and away results. The Tigers spent the majority of the season at the lower end of the table.
Blacktown Spartans had six wins and three draws to show for their season and they finished in eleventh place. They were fractionally better performed when they played at home but they remained among the bottom two teams all season.
Granville Rage had produced two wins and five draws from the competition and they ended up in the wooden spoon position. They were significantly better off when they played away from home and they were one of the bottom two teams throughout the season.
Grade 14
Dulwich Hill were the unbeaten Premiers, winning the competition by a margin of twelve points after they recorded seventeen victories and five draws from their matches. They had the equal best attacking figures as well as the best defensive record and they were marginally better performed when they played away from home. Dully led the way throughout the season. In the finals series they won the Major Semi Final and then went on to win the Grand Final.
Spirit FC finished in second spot with thirteen wins and five draws to their credit and they got their best results when they played at home. They had the equal best attacking figures for the season. Spirit remained in the top five throughout the season, occupying several positions but for the most part they were located in second place. They won the Preliminary Semi Final, lost the Major Semi Final and then lost the Preliminary Final.
Sydney University had twelve wins and six draws to end up in third place and they posted their best results when they played at home. Uni remained inside the top five for the entire season, taking up various positions before finally settling into third. In the finals series they lost the Preliminary Semi Final and then they bowed out with a loss in the Minor Semi Final.
Mounties Wanderers produced eleven victories and three draws along their way to claiming fourth position and they were better performed when they played at home. After a good start, they spent the period from Round 3 to Round 19 in mid-table positions before they grabbed a top five spot from Round 20 onward. In the finals series they won the Elimination Semi Final, won the Minor Semi Final and won the Preliminary Final before going down in the Grand Final.
Central Coast Lightning ended the season in fifth place after they posted ten wins and four draws and they had much better results when they played at home. A sluggish start meant that they only entered the top five in Round 7 but then they never looked back. In the finals series they bowed out when they lost the Elimination Semi Final.
Blacktown Spartans missed out on the finals by a single point when they finished sixth after they recorded nine wins and six draws. They were a bit better performed when they played at home. The Spartans remained in mid-table positions throughout the season and then they flirted with a finals position over the last seven rounds only to be disappointed when they lost they last match of the competition.
Northern Tigers were placed seventh after they had eight wins and six draws to show for their efforts. Their best results came when they played away from home. The Tigers lingered on the cusp of the top group until Round 15 when they slipped back to a mid-table position for the remainder of the season.
Western NSW Panthers came up with seven wins and seven draws to finish in eighth position and they were slightly better performed when they played at home. The Panthers showed a lot of early promise, keeping pace for the first seven rounds and then they dropped away to settle into a mid-table place for the rest of the season.
Macarthur Rams ended up in ninth place after they had seven wins and three draws to their credit and by far their best results came from their home games. The Rams spent the season among the bottom four teams
Granville Rage were placed tenth after they recorded five wins and four draws and they were much better performed when they played at home. Rage had a slow start and then climbed to a mid-table position before dropping off the pace.
Parramatta Eagles produced three wins and four draws to finish the season in eleventh place. They were marginally better performed when they played at home. The Eagles spent most of the year among the bottom three teams.
Schofields Scorpions had three wins and two draws to show for their efforts and they were placed twelfth. They were slightly better performed when they played away from home. The majority of their season was spent as one of the bottom two teams.
Grade 15
Granville Rage were crowned Premiers when they won the competition by four points with fourteen wins and three draws coming from their matches. They were a lot more successful when they played away from home. Rage had a slow start to the season and entered the top five from Round 4 before taking the lead from Round 8 onward. They won the Major Semi Final and then went on to win the Grand Final.
Sydney University were the competition runners-up after they produced eleven wins and eight draws. Uni had the best attacking and the best defensive figures in this age group with their best results coming from their home games. Uni were always in the top five, occupying several positions before consolidating second spot over the last two rounds. In the finals series they lost the Preliminary Semi Final, won the Minor Semi Final and then lost the Preliminary Final.
Spirit FC finished third after they posted twelve wins and four draws and there was no difference between their home and away results. Spirit had a solid start and then they maintained a top five position throughout the season. They won the Preliminary Semi Final, lost the Major Semi Final, won the Preliminary Final and then went down in the Grand Final.
Parramatta Eagles were placed fourth with eleven wins and five draws to show for their season. They were much better performed when they played at home. The Eagles held down a place in the top five throughout the competition. In the finals series they won the Elimination Final and then bowed out when they lost the Minor Semi Final.
Dulwich Hill ended up in fifth place after they recorded ten wins and seven draws and there was very little difference between their home and away results. Dully held onto a top five spot for the first ten rounds and then they slipped back to sixth before grabbing fifth place in the final game of the competition. They bowed out of the finals series when they lost the Elimination Semi Final.
Western NSW Panthers missed a place in the final by three points when they finished sixth after posting ten wins and four draws. They best results came from their away games. The Panthers remained on the cusp of the top group for the majority of the season and their results over the closing four rounds (two draws and two losses) cost them a place in the finals.
Schofields Scorpions produced seven wins and five draws to end up in seventh place and their best results came from their home games. The Scorpions gradually worked their way up the table to be found in the middle section for the last nine rounds.
Central Coast Lightning were placed eighth after they had six wins and six draws to show for their season and they were slightly better performed in their away games. Lightning started slowly but then they climbed the ladder to sit in a mid-table spot for the last six rounds of the season.
Mounties Wanderers finished in ninth position after they recorded five wins and seven draws. Their best results came from their home games. The Wanderers had a good start but then they slipped back to the lower half of the table before a late rally saw them climb back up the table.
Macarthur Rams posted six wins and three draws to be placed tenth on the final table for the season and they were much better performed when they played at home. The Rams remained in the middle of the table for the first seventeen rounds but then they slipped backwards over the remaining weeks.
Blacktown Spartans had five wins and six draws to show for their season and they were in eleventh position. There was very little difference between their home and away results. The Spartans had a healthy start and then went through a run of outs before clawing their way back to mid-table but then they fell away over the closing weeks of the season. 
Northern Tigers finished in the wooden spoon position after they registered four wins and four draws. By far, they best results came from their home matches. The Tigers were found in the middle of the table for the first thirteen rounds but then they slowly slipped backwards.
Grade 16
Spirit FC claimed the crown as Premiers when their sixteen wins and two draws left them five points clear at the top of the table. They had the best attacking figures in this age group and their best results came from their home matches. Spirit occupied a place in the top five all season and led the way in their own right from Round 10 onward. In the finals series they won the Major Semi Final and then they went down in the Grand Final.
Parramatta Eagles finished in the runners-up position after they posted thirteen wins and six draws and there was very little difference between their home and away results. The Eagles spent the majority of the season as one of the top two teams. They won the Preliminary Semi Final, lost the Major Semi Final, won the Preliminary Final and then they went on to win the Grand Final.
Macarthur Rams completed the competition period in third place with eight wins and ten draws and they were marginally better performed when they played away from home. The Rams settled into a mid-table position for the first half of the season and then they moved into the top five from Round 13 onward. They lost the Preliminary Semi Final, won the Major Semi Final and then bowed out when they lost the Preliminary Final.
Mounties Wanderers produced ten wins and three draws along the way to claiming fourth place and they were significantly better performed when they played at home. The Wanderers enjoyed a healthy start and then they fell back to the middle of the table from Round 8 to Round 19 before grabbing a spot in the top five in Round twenty and they stayed there for the remaining matches. They dropped out of the finals series when they lost the Elimination Semi Final.
Sydney University ended the season in fifth place after they recorded ten wins and two draws and there was no difference between their home and away results. Uni spent most of the season in the middle of the table and then they made a late run that saw them arrive in the top group in the final game of the competition. The won the Elimination Semi Final but then they dropped out of the finals series when they lost the Minor Semi Final.
Western NSW Panthers missed out on the finals by two points when they finished sixth following a record of eight wins and six draws. Their best results came from their home matches. The Panthers struggled for consistency over the first seven rounds and then they lived right on the cup of the top group from Round 9 onward.
Schofields Scorpions had seven wins and nine draws and that placed them at seventh on the final table for the season. They had their best results when they played at home. The Scorpions had a great early run, spending most of the season inside the top five but they fell away when they did not win a game in their last eight outings.
Dulwich Hill had eight wins and five draws to show for their season and they ended up in eighth place with their best success coming from their home games. They had the best defensive figures in this age group. Dully enjoyed a healthy start to the season but then they slipped back to settle into a mid-table position, occasionally threatening the top group.
Blacktown Spartans finished ninth after they registered eight wins and four draws with no difference between their home and away results. The Spartans held onto a top five position for the first fourteen rounds but then they fell off the pace to end up in the middle of the table.
Granville Rage were placed tenth with eight wins and three draws coming from their season and they were much better performed when they played at home. Rage showed some early promise but they could not sustain the pace and so they dropped away to the lower half of the table.
Northern Tigers completed the competition in eleventh position after they had four wins and three draws and there was very little difference between their home and away results. The Tigers started in the middle of the table and then fell away to spend most of the season as one of the bottom two teams.
Central Coast Lightning ended up in the wooden spoon position after their record showed three wins and five draws. They were a bit better performed when they played at home. Lightning spent the majority of the season as one of the bottom two teams.
Grade 18
NSW Institute of Sport were declared the Premiers when they finished five points clear at the top of the table. They had both the best attacking and the best defensive figures in this age group. As they were a ?guest? team they were not permitted to participate in the finals series.
Spirit FC were the competition runners-up with fifteen wins and two draws coming from their matches. Of the teams which qualified for the finals, Spirit had the best defensive figures. They were much better performed when they played at home. In the finals series they won the Major Semi Final and then they went on to claim the Grand Final.
Northern Tigers finished in third place after they recorded twelve wins and four draws. Their best results came when they played at home. The Tigers were in the middle of the table until Round 14 when they joined the top group and never looked back. They lost the Preliminary Semi Final and then won the Minor Semi Final before bowing out in the Preliminary Final.
Parramatta Eagles were placed fourth on goal difference at the end of the competition as a result of their record of twelve wins and four draws. They had significantly better results when they played away from home. The Eagles were always found at the top end of the table. They won the Preliminary Semi Final, lost the Major Semi Final and won the Preliminary Final before going down in the Grand Final.
Dulwich Hill ended the competition period in fifth position with ten wins and seven draws coming from their matches and they had their best success when they played at home. Dully maintained a place in the top group all season. They won the Elimination Semi Final and then lost the Minor Semi Final.
Sydney University recorded nine wins and five draws to finish in sixth place and they were much better performed when they played away from home. Uni were in the top five until Round 11 and then they fell back to mid-table before rejoining the top group in Round 21. They departed the final series when they lost the Elimination Semi Final.
Western NSW Panthers were placed seventh on goal difference after they posted nine wins and five draws and there was no difference in their home and away results. Western enjoyed some early success before dropping back to mid-table from Round 7.
Blacktown Spartans had eight wins and eight draws to show for their season and they finished in eighth position. Their results were marginally better when they played at home. After a slow start, the Spartans held onto a place in the top five from Round 7 to Round 16 before dropping back to mid-table from Round 17 onward.
Central Coast Lightning were ninth after they registered eight wins and seven draws and their best results came from their home games. Lightning had some success early in the competition but they could not maintain the pace and fell back to the middle of the table.
Mounties Wanderers posted nine wins and four draws on their way to claiming tenth place and they were marginally better in their home games. The Wanderers had a sluggish start to the season and then they picked up the pace to be in and out of the top group between Round 7 and Round 20 but they were unable to go on with it.
Granville Rage finished eleventh with six wins and four draws and they were a bit better performed when they played away from home. Rage spent the season at the lower end of the table.
Macarthur Rams registered five wins and two draws to be in twelfth place and there was very little difference between their home and away results. The Rams were at the bottom end of the table throughout the season.
Schofields Scorpions were in the wooden spoon position at the end of the competition after they had four wins and four draws to show for their season. There was no difference between their home and away results. The Scorpions were always among the bottom three teams.
-By Barry Davis