Premier Youth League Round 14 Review

With eight rounds and a heap of catch-up matches still to be played, not one of the competitions is at a stage where the top five can be predicted with any sort of real confidence and that means that almost every match from here on can still have a big influence on the final decision of which teams will play in the finals and which will miss out.
It was delightful to see the sun shining brightly and all venues in full operation this week so let?s have a look at what happened.
Overview
Bankstown City had taken nine of the points from Bonnyrigg White Eagles last time the clubs faced each other but it was a slightly different story this week when the clubs shared the spoils at seven points apiece.
Sydney United enjoyed their best day of the season last time the met Rockdale City Suns as United made off with twelve of the points but the Suns came good this time as each of the clubs took seven points from the day.
Sutherland Sharks pocketed thirteen of the first round points from their matches against Sydney Olympic but this time the Sharks were forced to settle for ten points.
Marconi Stallions shared the first round spoils with Manly United at seven apiece but on this occasion the Stallions came to the fore as they took twelve points from the day.
APIA Leichhardt Tigers bagged ten points from their first round encounter with South Coast Wolves but on this occasion the Wolves secured nine points from the meeting.
Parramatta Eagles earned eight points from their last meeting with Blacktown City but this time around Blacktown earned twelve points from the matches.
Grade 13
Marconi Stallions had won their last eleven matches including their 3-1 first round success over Manly United who had taken points from their last four matches. Once again the points went to the Stallions when they were 1-0 winners and that leaves them nine points clear at the top of the table while Manly have remained at sixth.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles had won their last five games on the trot but they had lost 2-0 in their first round meeting with Bankstown City who returned to the winners circle in their last game after two draws and a loss. Bonnyrigg?s run of success came to a screaming halt when the Lions completed the double with a 4-2 victory to retain second spot and force the White Eagles back one place to fourth.
South Coast Wolves were coming off two losses and they had gone down 2-1 last time they faced APIA Leichhardt Tigers who had produced a win from their last match. The Tigers made it two wins in a row when they posted a 1-0 result and that moved them up one place to third while the Wolves slipped back one place to eleventh.
Sydney Olympic had come up with a draw and a win from their last two games after a run of four losses and they had played out a 1-1 draw in their first round encounter with Sutherland Sharks who were coming off a win and two draws. This week the Sharks took all the points with a 2-0 win and that that has left them in fifth place while Olympic are still ninth.
Rockdale City Suns had lost their last two games and they were beaten 5-2 when they last saw Sydney United who have not played in any of the last three weeks but they had posted a win and two draws in their previous three outings. The seventh placed United once again took the points when they were 3-1 winners over the Suns who have dropped back to twelfth position.
Blacktown City had taken points from three of their last four matches and they had suffered a 3-0 first round loss to Parramatta Eagles who had lost their two most recent matches. Blacktown turned things around this time when they produced a 1-0 success and that moved them up two places to tenth while Parramatta are still eighth.
In Round 11 catch-up action Sydney United lost 3-0 to Bankstown City but this result did not affect the position of either team on the table.
Grade 14
Marconi Stallions had not only remained unbeaten up to this stage but they had conceded goals in only three of their matches including their 7-2 first round victory over Manly United who had won last week?s match. The Stallions continued their run of success and they kept the top spot on the table with a 2-0 victory over fifth placed Manly.
Sydney Olympic had won their last four games on the trot but they had lost 3-2 in their first round clash with Sutherland Sharks who had suffered a loss last week to end a four-game unbeaten run. The Sharks completed the double with a 2-1 victory this week to remain at third while Olympic are still in second spot.
Blacktown City came into this game on the back of two losses and they had battled out a 2-2 first round draw with Parramatta Eagles who returned to the winners circle last time out. Blacktown bounced back this week with a 1-0 result that has left them at seventh while Parramatta are still fourth.
South Coast Wolves had suffered a last match loss but they were 1-0 winners when they last met APIA Leichhardt Tigers who had not registered their first three-pointer. The Wolves completed the double this week thanks to a 2-0 victory and they have remained at sixth while the Tigers are still at the foot of the table.
Rockdale City Suns had picked up points from their last two outings with a win and a draw and they were 3-2 winners last time they faced Sydney United who had not played for three weeks but they had won they last time they took the field of play. On this occasion the teams battled out a 1-1 draw leaving the teams at eighth and eleventh positions respectively. 
Bonnyrigg White Eagles had lost the three matches immediately before this week?s outing and they had gone down 1-0 in their first round clash with Bankstown City who broke a two match losing streak with a last match draw. However, the White Eagles were able to turn the tables this time when they came up with a 1-0 win to remain at ninth while Bankstown are still tenth.
In Round 11 catch-up action Sydney United fought out a scoreless draw with Bankstown City and both teams have stayed where they were on the table.
Grade 15
Sutherland Sharks had taken points from their last eight matches and they had produced a 2-0 victory from their first round match against Sydney Olympic who were coming off a last game draw. The Sharks continued along their merry way with a 1-0 success this week to remain eight points clear at the top of the table while Olympic have remained at fourth.
Marconi Stallions arrived at this match on the back of a last game win but they had suffered a 4-0 loss last time they faced Manly United who saw their four game winning streak come to an end with a last game loss. Manly were able to complete the double and consolidate their position at second with a 1-0 result this week and that has left Marconi at third.
South Coast Wolves had gone seven games without a win but they picked up the three points in their last match and they had lost 2-0 in their first round encounter with APIA Leichhardt Tigers who had won their last two games before suffering wash-outs over the last fortnight. The Wolves squared the ledger this time when they produced a 1-0 victory but they have remained at eleventh while the Tigers have dropped back one place to sixth.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles came into this week on the back of a three match losing streak but they had won 2-0 last time they played Bankstown City who were last-match winners. History repeated when the White Eagles once again registered a 2-0 result and that has moved them up one place to fifth while the Lions are still tenth.
Sydney United had gone three weeks without a game and they had lost their last outing but they had produced a 4-0 first round victory over Rockdale City Suns who have lost their last two matches after a run of three draws. The Suns really shone as they registered their first win of the season with a sensational 3-0 scoreline but it was not enough to lift them from the bottom of the table while United have slipped back one place to eighth.
Blacktown City had posted a draw last week and they had battled out a scoreless draw last time they saw Parramatta Eagles who were last match winners. Parramatta took all the points this time around when they were 2-0 winners and that has allowed them to climb one place to seventh while Blacktown are still ninth.
Grade 16
Manly United had gone eight games without a loss and they had come up with a 3-1 victory in the first round clash with Marconi Stallions who had won their last three matches. The Stallions squared the accounts this week when they produced 3-2 win, an outcome that leaves Manly at the top of the table and put the second placed Stallions within two points of them.
Sutherland Sharks were coming off a run of three losses but they were 1-0 winners last time they faced Sydney Olympic whose five game unbeaten run came to an end with last week?s loss. The teams shared the spoils this week when their clash finished at 0-0 and that has forced Sutherland back one place to fourth and left Olympic at fifth.
Blacktown City had won their last two matches but they had gone down 1-0 when they last played Parramatta Eagles who made a return to the winners circle last week after two losses.  Blacktown really turned the tables this time when they came up with a 2-0 victory to move up one place to third and that leaves Parramatta at sixth.
Sydney United had won the two matches immediately before their weather enforced lay-off of three weeks and they were 3-0 winners in their first round clash with Rockdale City Suns who have also had three weeks off and they had yet to post their first three-pointer. Seventh placed United took the points once again when they were 2-0 winners over the twelfth placed Suns.
Bankstown City had gone six games without a win but they were 2-1 winners when they last saw Bonnyrigg White Eagles who had lost their last two matches. The Lions shook off their recent form this week to post a 2-0 success, completing the double for them and keeping them at eighth while the White Eagles have dropped one place to eleventh.
APIA Leichhardt Tigers had lost the two matches immediately before they suffered two weeks of wash-outs but they had produced a 5-0 victory in their last meeting with South Coast Wolves who posted a draw at their last outing to break a run of three losses. On this occasion the Wolves were able to square the ledger when they were 2-0 winners and that has moved them two places up the table to ninth while the Tigers have slipped back one place to tenth.
Grade 18
Manly United had recorded a win and a draw from their last two outings and they had battled out a scoreless first round draw with Marconi Stallions who had lost their last two matches. This time Marconi took all the points with a 2-1 result and they have moved up one place to sixth while Manly?s competition leading margin was cut to two points.
Sutherland Sharks had gone ten matches without loss including a 2-1 first round win over Sydney Olympic who have collected points from their last two games with a win and a draw. The Sharks? run of success came to a screaming halt this week when they were beaten 3-0 by Olympic. As a result the Sharks have dropped back two places to fourth while Olympic have graduated one place to third.
Blacktown City were coming off a last game draw and they had won by the odd goal in five in their first round clash with Parramatta Eagles who had lost their last two games. Blacktown completed the double this week when they produced a 5-1 victory and they have climbed one place to second while Parramatta have fallen back one place to seventh..
Bonnyrigg White Eagles had picked up points from the last four matches and they were 1-0 winners when they last faced Bankstown City who had posted a win and a draw in their last two games. However, this week the teams shared the spoils when their match was locked at 0-0 when the final whistle sounded. That leaves Bonnyrigg at fifth and Bankstown at eleventh.
South Coast Wolves were coming off losses in their last two games and they had fought out a 1-1 first round draw with APIA Leichhardt Tigers who had earned points from their last two matches. This week the Tigers were able to claim all the points when they produced a 3-0 victory, an outcome that caused the teams to swap places on the table with the Tigers climbing to eighth and the Wolves slipping to ninth.
Sydney United had broken a three-game losing streak with a win at their last outing and they were 4-1 winners last time they saw Rockdale City Suns who had not posted a three-pointer this season. Not for the first time on the day, the twelfth placed Suns shone really brightly as they not only reversed the first round outcome but they also produced their first win of the season with a 2-0 result over tenth placed United.
In Round 11 catch-up action Rockdale City Suns lost 2-0 to Parramatta Eagles and Sydney United defeated Bankstown City 2-1. That has moved Parramatta up one place to fifth (dropping Bonnyrigg back to sixth) and left everyone else where they were on the table.
-By Barry Davis