Division One Youth League Round 19 Review

The table are all very tight in terms of the availability of places in the play-offs so there is bound to be a good deal of interest in the outcome of all the matches from this point onward.
Club Championship
Wow! What a battle we have for the Club Championship title as the top three clubs are covered by only two points and in reality any of the clubs currently occupying a top five berth can still claim the title with a run of very good results and a slip (or two) from any of the other clubs.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers have retained the top spot on this table after they earned nine points from their encounter at eighth placed Hills Brumbies and that repeated the outcome of the first round fixture between the clubs.
Gladesville Ryde Magic climbed one place to second thanks to the eleven points theyclaimed from their trip to tenth placed Springwood United, the same number of points Magic had taken from the first round clash with the mountain men.
Hakoah dropped back one place to third when they took ten points from their visit to thirteenth placed Inter Lions after the eastern Suburbs club had pocketed eleven points last time around.
Camden Tigers are still placed fourth but they may have been a bit disappointed that they could only take ten points from their home matches against fourteenth placed Nepean from whom they had grabbed all the first round points.
Stanmore Hawks have remained at fifth position after they split the points at seven apiece with seventh placed Hurstville City Minotaurs. When they met last time twelve of the points had gone to the Hawks.
St George have hung onto sixth spot after their matches against twelfth placed Northbridge were washed out.
Southern NSW have stayed at ninth even though Balmain East Tigers took twelve points from them, reversing the first round outcome when Southern had taken twelve points.
In Round 14 catch-up action Mt Druitt Town Rangers collected thirteen points from their matches against Springwood United, improving on the first round outcome when the Rangers had grabbed eight points. This means that Mt Druitt have established a bigger break at the top of the table and Springwood have stayed at tenth.
In Round 17 Catch-up action St George earned thirteen points from their encounter with Balmain East Tigers and that was a minor improvement as the Saints had taken twelve points last time the clubs met. These results have moved the Saints up one place to fifth and left Balmain at eleventh.
Grade 13
This competition has reached an interesting stage with only three points separating the top three teams and seven teams still very much in the running for places in the play-offs. It should be fascinating to watch what happens from here on in.
Camden Tigers have held onto the competition lead after they were held to a 1-1 draw by eighth placed Nepean who the Tigers had beaten 4-0 when the teams met last time around.
Second placed Hakoah stretched their unbeaten sequence to thirteen matches when they posted a 1-0 victory over tenth placed Inter Lions who they had beaten 5-0 last time to start that run of success.
Southern NSW are in third position thanks to their 9-1 victory over fourteenth placed Balmain East Tigers who Southern had defeated 2-1 when they met in the first round.
Gladesville Ryde Magic climbed one place up the table to fourth when they were 1-0 winners over thirteenth placed Springwood United who had lost the first round clash 6-0.
St George slipped back one place to fifth when their match against twelfth placed Northbridge was washed out.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers are in sixth spot following their 2-1 success over ninth placed Hills Brumbies who had won the first round encounter 4-1.
Seventh placed Hurstville City Minotaurs registered a 2-0 result when they met eleventh placed Stanmore Hawks, completing a double for the Minotaurs as they had won the first round match 4-1.
In Round 14 catch-up action Mt Druitt Town Rangers accounted for Springwood United with a 6-0 scoreline to complete the double for the Rangers as they were 5-2 winners in the first round. Mt Druitt have remained in sixth spot while Springwood are still thirteenth.
In Round 17 catch-up action St George produced a 3-0 victory over Balmain East Tigers after the Saints had taken the first round points with a 5-0 win. St George are still placed fourth and Balmain are fourteenth.
Grade 14
If you blink you might miss something important as this competition is poised on a razor?s edge with seven teams still seriously competing for a place in the finals series and any one of the top four can still claim the title as Premiers.
Unbeaten in their last eight matches, Stanmore Hawks are the competition frontrunners by a margin of two points after they recorded a 3-0 win over tenth placed Hurstville City Minotaurs and that completes the double for the Hawks as they had won the first round match 6-0.
Second placed Mt Druitt Town Rangers made it seven wins on the trot with a 5-0 victory over eighth placed Hills Brumbies who had gone down 3-1 last time they saw the Rangers.
St George held onto third position after their match against eleventh placed Northbridge was washed out.
Hakoah have retained fourth place and taken their unbeaten run to five matches when they produced a 1-0 win over twelfth placed Inter Lions who had held the eastern suburbs outfit to a 1-1 first round draw. The game began under blue skies but the field was still damp from the previous night?s rain, which made the ball difficult to control as it skimmed off the surface at a fast pace.  Hakoah were alert and were trying to play football from the outset. They produced some nice attacking moves but didn?t really put too much pressure on the Inter Lions goalie. In fact Hakoah had at least three good opportunities to score but just could not get the ball in the back of the net. The Inter Lions midfield was strong and was giving good service to their main striker who was a strong physical player. He had a few opportunities but was well marked by Josh Machet who made sure his impact was limited. Half time saw the score deadlocked at 0-0 but it seemed that Hakoah had more chances. The second half was similar to the first with both teams pressing for the lead. Inter Lions had The defending on both sides was fierce but Hakoah still seemed to be the more likely to score. Eventually this was the case, and once again a ball was released to Simon Rouse this time on the left wing who made a trademark run down the line, beating his defender easily. Cutting back in and seeing Jono Solomon waiting in the box he passed inside and the ball deflected off a defender into the goal. The last 10 minutes were nerve racking as Inter Lions threw everything at Hakoah in attempt to get the equaliser.  The final whistle blew and Hakoah were grateful winners.
Fifth placed Balmain East Tigers returned to the winners circle with a 4-2 result when they faced ninth placed Southern NSW who had claimed the first round points with a 2-1 win.
Camden Tigers are in sixth spot thanks to their 3-0 success over fourteenth placed Nepean who the Tigers had defeated with a 2-0 scoreline when they met last time around.
Gladesville Ryde Magic are placed seventh following their 3-1 victory over thirteenth placed Springwood United and that completes the double for Magic as they were 2-1 winners in the first round.
In Round 14 catch-up action Mt Druitt Town Rangers moved to the top of the table when they were 3-0 winners over thirteenth placed Springwood United who the Rangers had beaten 2-0 last time around.
In Round 17 catch-up action St George remained at third after they produced a 2-1 victory over fifth placed Balmain East Tigers who had taken the first round points with a 2-0 win.
Grade 15
It is still possible for any of the top seven teams to make it into the finals series so plenty of action and anxiety can be expected over the coming weeks. Anything can still happen and in probably will!
Still unbeaten, Mt Druitt Town Rangers have a lead of eleven points at the top of the table after they came up with a solid 5-0 victory over Hills Brumbies who have slipped back one place to thirteenth. The Rangers had bagged the first round points with an 8-2 result. 
Southern NSW are sitting in second spot despite their 2-1 loss to Balmain East Tigers who have climbed one place to third. Southern were 3-0 winners when the teams met in the first round.
Gladesville Ryde Magic dropped back to third when they were held to a scoreless draw by tenth placed Springwood United who had lost the first round match 2-1.
Stanmore Hawks climbed one place to fifth with a 1-0 victory over Hurstville City Minotaurs who have dropped back one place to sixth. When they met last time the Hawks won 2-0.
Seventh placed Hakoah were held to a 1-1 draw when they faced Inter Lions who have slipped back one place to fourteenth. Hakoah had claimed the first round points with a 2-0 win.
Camden Tigers retained eighth place even though they suffered a 3-1 loss to Nepean who moved up two places to twelfth. The first round points had gone to Camden with a 2-1 result.
Northbridge and St George remained at ninth and eleventh places respectively when their match was washed out.
In Round 14 catch-up action competition leaders Mt Druitt Town Rangers extended their margin to fourteen points when they were 4-0 winners over tenth placed Springwood United after their first round clash had ended in a scoreless draw.
In Round 17 catch-up action eleventh placed St George did well to play out a scoreless draw with third placed Balmain East Tigers who the Saints had beaten 1-0 last time around.
Grade 16
It looks certain that the top eight teams will fight it out for the places in the play-offs so it is clear that every single point ? won or lost ? will be very, very important to those teams.
Hakoah lead the way on the competition table by a single point after they suffered a 3-2 loss to Inter Lions who have climbed one place to ninth. That reverses the first round outcome when Hakoah were 3-2 winners.
With a ten match unbeaten run to their credit, Gladesville Ryde Magic are in second spot following their scoreless draw with fourth placed Springwood United. That virtually repeated the first round outcome when the clash ended in a 1-1 draw.
Third placed Stanmore Hawks were beaten 1-0 when they faced Hurstville City Minotaurs who have moved up one place to fifth. The Hawks had claimed the first round points with a 1-0 result.
St George have fallen back two places to seventh and Northbridge are still fourteenth after their match was washed out.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers have remained in sixth position following their 1-0 loss to eighth placed Hills Brumbies who had gone down 3-1 to the Rangers in the first round.
Camden Tigers climbed on place to sixth when they came up with a were 3-1 winners over thirteenth placed Nepean who had lost the first round match by a 4-1 scoreline.
Eleventh placed Balmain East Tigers produced a 2-1 victory over twelfth placed Southern NSW who had won the first round encounter 3-1.
In Round 14 catch-up action ninth placed Mt Druitt Town Rangers came up with a 1-0 win over fourth placed Springwood United who had bagged the first round points with a 2-1 success.
In Round 17 Catch-up action fifth placed St George produced a strong 5-0 victory over eleventh placed Balmain East Tigers who the Saints had defeated 4-0 last time they met.
Grade 18
Well, this is very interesting indeed. Eight teams are in strong competition for places in the finals series so the level of interest in every single result is about to rise significantly. We will just have to wait and see what will happen and enjoy all the action and drama along the way.
Hills Brumbies remained unbeaten and they lead the competition table by three points after they were 5-1 winners over sixth placed Mt Druitt Town Rangers with the goals for the Brumbies coming from Mitchell Slee (2), Tomas Sarac (2) and Luke Maait. The Brumbies were 4-0 winners the last time around.
Camden Tigers are in second place after they posted a closer-than-expected 4-3 victory over tenth placed Nepean who had lost the first round encounter 5-1.
Third placed Gladesville Ryde Magic returned to the winners circle with a 2-1 win over ninth placed Springwood United who had held Magic to a 1-1 first round draw.
Stanmore Hawks are still placed fourth after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Hurstville City Minotaurs who have slipped back one place to eighth. The Hawks had taken the first round points with a 3-1 scoreline.
St George retained fifth position and Northbridge are still eleventh after their match was washed out.
Eighth placed Hakoah registered a strong 6-0 win over Inter Lions who have fallen back one place to thirteenth. The first round match had finished in a 2-2 draw.
Balmain East Tigers moved up one place to twelfth when they accounted for fourteenth placed Southern NSW with a 2-1 scoreline. Balmain were 6-0 winners when the teams met last time.
In Round 14 catch-up action sixth placed Mt Druitt Town Rangers battled out a scoreless draw with ninth placed Springwood United after the first round points had been split with a 1-1 draw.
In Round 17 Catch-up action fifth placed St George were 2-1 winners over twelfth placed Balmain East Tigers and that completed the double for the Saints after they had won the first round match 7-2.
-By Barry Davis