Super Youth League Round 20 Review

There were some catch-up matches played over the weekend and that has made a minor dent in the schedule of games still to be played.
Club Championship
At the moment this table looks like a race between the two top clubs and while it is likely that one of them will claim the title, the third and fourth placed clubs are poised to strike should one or both of those ahead of them falter. With fifteen points on offer on each match day these clubs will be striving to maintain a record of double-figure points from each of the coming rounds.
Spirit FC had pocketed all fifteen points last time they faced West Sydney Berries but the Christie Park based outfit had to settle for ten points this week. However, that was enough to see them move to the top of this table while the Berries have remained at twelfth.
Granville Rage pinched eight points from the first round engagement with Central Coast but this time around the clubs shared the spoils at seven points each, an outcome which has caused Central Coast to slip back to second spot while Rage are still sixth.
Western NSW Panthers had secured ten points when they last saw Fraser Park and they improved on that this time when the Panthers bagged twelve points meaning that Fraser Park are still in eighth place. However, catch-up matches played elsewhere have force Western back one place to fourth
In the first round derby Blacktown Spartans had shown a profit of ten points from Schofields Scorpions but the second round outcome was that the Spartans grabbed all fifteen points from the thirteenth placed Scorpions.
In Round 14 catch-up action on Sunday Blacktown Spartans grabbed thirteen points from their clash with Sydney University after the Spartans had taken twelve points from the first round encounter. That was enough to push Blacktown up one place to third
When they met last time Dulwich Hill had taken nine points from Northern Tigers but on this occasion the clubs shared the spoils at six points apiece after three of the matches were draws. Dully have retained fifth position and the Tigers are sill placed eleventh..
Mounties Wanderers had the bye this week and they are still in seventh place.
Ninth placed Sydney University had earned eleven points from their first round clash with tenth placed Macarthur Rams and this week Uni went one better when they took twelve points from the day.
Grade 13
At this stage Central Coast have a very healthy lead and they will not want to waste any points over the coming weeks. The other four places are will hold a good deal of interest over the closing rounds as it is realistic to say that, given the right circumstances and a bit of luck, any of the next ten teams could end up in the play-offs. Stranger things have happened 
Central Coast bounced back from the disappointment of last week?s loss and extended their competition leading margin to nine points with a 2-0 win over twelfth placed Granville Rage who Central Coast had beaten 4-0 when they met in the first round.
Macarthur Rams dropped to third place after their shock 3-1 loss to eleventh placed Sydney University with whom the Rams had battled out a 3-3 first round draw.
The Skillaroos have dropped back two places to third after their clash with sixth placed Mounties Wanderers was postponed. In Round 17 catch-up action the Skillaroos were held to a 1-1 draw, an outcome that did not affect the position of either team on the table.
Blacktown Spartans produced a 3-1 victory over Schofields Scorpions who have fallen back one place to ninth. The first round points had gone to the Spartans with a 1-0 win.
In Round 14 catch-up action Blacktown Spartans edged out eleventh placed Sydney University with a 2-1 scoreline after the Spartans had taken the first round points, also with a 2-1 victory. As a result of the two matches this weekend, Blacktown moved up the table to second place.
Fifth placed Western NSW Panthers had won 4-0 last time they faced thirteenth placed Fraser Park and the Panthers were able to complete the double when they were 4-1 winners this week.
Spirit FC remained at seventh after they suffered a 2-1 loss to West Sydney Berries who have moved up one place to eighth position. This result reversed the first round outcome when Spirit had won by the odd goal in five.
Tenth placed Dulwich Hill had beaten fourteenth placed Northern Tigers 4-1 when they met in the first round and this week Dully repeated the effort to complete the double with a 3-0 result.
Grade 14
Although the leaders have a handy margin, they will be very aware that there are some tough games till to come and they will need to maintain their form throughout the remaining weeks. There are still eight other teams in the race to secure the remaining spots in the finals series and they are sure to be watching each other very closely indeed. 
Central Coast have not been beaten since the opening day of the season and they have established a lead of seven points at the top of the table after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Granville Rage who have slipped back one place to sixth. This week?s result repeated the scoreline of the encounter in the first round.
Spirit FC missed the chance to close the gap on the competition leaders when they were held to a 1-1 draw by twelfth placed West Sydney Berries who Spirit had defeated 6-2 last time around.
Fraser Park maintained third position despite suffering a 1-0 loss to Western NSW Panthers who have moved up one place to seventh. Last time the teams met Fraser Park were 2-1 winners.
Sydney University scampered two places up the ladder to fourth when they produced a 3-0 victory over tenth placed Macarthur Rams, completing the double for Uni as they had won the first round match 5-1.
Dulwich Hill dropped back one place to fifth when they were held to a 1-1 draw by eleventh placed Northern Tigers who Dully had beaten 2-0 last time they faced each other.
Mounties Wanderers fell one place to seventh when they had the bye this week.
Blacktown Spartans have remained in ninth position following their 1-0 success over thirteenth placed Schofields Scorpions with whom the Spartans had battled out a scoreless first round draw.
Round 14 catch-up action Blacktown Spartans were 1-0 winners over Sydney University to complete the double as the Spartans had won the first round match 4-1. This result did not affect the position of either of the teams.
Grade 15
In this competition a single slip-up could prove to be very costly as there are only five points separating first from seventh. This could really go down to the wire and provide loads of thrills and spills along the way.
Mounties Wanderers have held onto the competition lead despite having the bye this week, although their leading margin has been reduced to a single point.
Blacktown Spartans had suffered a 1-0 loss to thirteenth placed Schofields Scorpions when they met in the first round but the Spartans squared the ledger this week when they came up with a 1-0 result of their own.
In Round 14 catch-up action on Sunday Blacktown Spartans produced a 1-0 victory over Sydney University just as they had when the teams met in the first round. This result was enough to push Blacktown up to second position but it did not affect Uni.
Spirit FC are in third position after they were 3-2 winners over tenth placed West Sydney Berries who had gone down 3-0 to Spirit last time they played.
Central Coast are placed fourth following a 4-0 victory over eleventh placed Granville Rage who had claimed the first round points when they produced a 2-1 win.
Dulwich Hill slipped back two places to fourth after they were beaten 1-0 by eighth placed Northern Tigers who had also taken the first round points when they were 3-2 winners.
Sydney University retained sixth spot thanks to a 2-0 victory over twelfth placed Macarthur Rams and that completed the double for Uni as they were first round winners by a 3-0 scoreline.
Western NSW Panthers are still seventh following their 1-0 win over ninth placed Fraser Park who the Panthers had beaten 2-0 the first time around.
Grade 16
The top two teams are neck-and-neck at this stage and they have established a buffer of eight points on their nearest rivals. With a blanket of only five points covering the next eight teams it would take a brave person to even try to predict which of the teams will play in the finals and which will miss out.
Spirit FC are still clinging onto the top spot on the table on goal difference after they produced a solid 4-0 victory over tenth placed West Sydney Berries and that gives Spirit the double as they had won the first round clash 3-2.
Granville Rage are still right behind the leaders following their 1-0 success over fifth placed Central Coast after the teams had battled out a 1-1 first round draw.
Eight points further back are fourth placed Western NSW Panthers who suffered a 3-0 loss to sixth placed Fraser Park after the Panthers had claimed the first round points with a 2-1 scoreline.
Blacktown Spartans were 4-1 winners over thirteenth placed Schofields Scorpions and that gave the Spartans the double following their 4-0 first round success.
Round 14 catch-up action the Spartans came up with a 2-1 win over Sydney University who they had beaten 3-0 in the first round. That was enough to push Blacktown up two places to third while Uni were not affected by the result.
Sydney University climbed one place to seventh when they came up with a 3-1 result over eleventh placed Macarthur Rams who Uni had beaten 2-1 last time the teams faced each other.
Dulwich Hill slipped back one place to eighth when they were held to a 2-2 draw by ninth placed Northern Tigers after Dully had taken the first round points with a 4-2 result.
Mounties Wanderers remained at twelfth after they had the bye this week.
Grade 18
It looks as though the current top four will fight it out for the top spot at season?s end and what a battle it promises to be. Then there is the interesting contest for the other place in the finals as the teams from fifth to eighth are separated by a mere five points.
Spirit FC leading the competition table on goal difference following their 6-2 victory over eleventh placed West Sydney Berries who had gone down 7-2 last time they met Spirit.
Granville Rage moved up one place to second thanks to a 1-0 success over ninth placed Central Coast and that was exactly the same scoreline that had given Rage the first round points.
Northern Tigers slipped back one place to third when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Dulwich Hill who have fallen back one spot to seventh. The Tigers had taken all the first round points with a 3-1 result.
Fourth placed Western NSW Panthers produced a strong 4-0 win over fifth placed Fraser Park after the teams had battled out a 1-1 first round draw.
Macarthur Rams climbed one place up the table to sixth when they were 4-3 winners over tenth placed Sydney University after they teams had fought it out for a 3-3 draw in the first round.
Eighth placed Blacktown Spartans had been 2-0 winners when they met thirteenth placed Schofields Scorpions in the first round and the Spartans completed the double this week with a 4-2 success.
In Round 14 catch-up action Blacktown Spartans and Sydney University battled it out for a 1-1 draw after Uni had taken the first round points with a 2-1 win.
Mounties Wanderers remained at twelfth after they had the bye this week
-By Barry Davis