NSW Super League Round 22 Review – Northern Tigers Crowned 2012 Premiers
Bankstown Berries finished third, followed by Mounties Wanderers in fourth and Macarthur Rams in fifth, and these five will fight out the finals series.
In the under 20s competition, Spirit FC take the title after a 2-0 defeat of St George, two points clear of Northern Tigers.
Fraser Park v Northern Tigers
Any thoughts that Northern Tigers may stumble on the final day evaporated within minutes at Fraser Park as the Premiers elect tore into Fraser right from the opening whistle, taking only four minutes to take the lead, a goal which set them on the way to the 2012 Super League title.
Max Glanville was the man who eased any nerves, chipping over Michael Frost from midway inside Fraser?s half, before Liam McCreesh made it 2-0 with a comfortable tap in, with less than a quarter of an hour having passed.
The Tigers, who had to reshuffle their lineup due to injuries and suspensions, brought in Glen Downey for his league starting debut to partner Michael Rolston in the middle of the defence, while Adam Biddle started in place of suspended Paul Davies out on the right. Fraser Park were also without many of their established seniors, the young side having it all to do against a rampant Tigers.
There seemed little doubt that Northern Tigers were going to win this one, each attack likely to bring a goal. It almost became 3-0 on the half hour when McCreesh set up Tom Spencer superbly but Spencer?s strike smashed against the cross bar from close range.
Just moments later, it did indeed become three. A classy flick by Spencer fell right into the path of an onrushing Glanville, who controlled well before smashing low past Frost.
A minute before half time, and it was the turn of Glanville to return the favour, a long throw finding Spencer inside the box, who scored spectacularly to make it 4-0.
It was all over after this, the title won before half time and the large Northern Tigers contingent witnessing a successful premiership, could relax and enjoy the occasion.
Fraser Park did rally just after the turnaround, a few moments of danger for the Tigers creating a scare or two but it was up the other end that more goals seemed likely. Biddle was on form, finding Glanville time after time, and a fifth goal was only prevented by Frost diving at his feet. With half an hour left, Spencer left the field followed shortly after by Glanville, their jobs done for the day. On came Will Thom and Adam Hett and it was Thom who brought a great one handed save from Frost.
Thom skied another chance when right in front and Biddle slammed a volley from Jamie Lobb cross into the side netting but despite these chances, the scoreline remained the same.
Fraser Park came closest when Wassim Hijazi dived bravely to head towards goal, Stuart Page parrying before the ball was cleared late.
But there was only one team who was going to win this game, and for the first time since 2007, Northern Tigers are the Super League Premiers.
When asked how the win compared to the Super League Grand Final win of 2010, Jason Eagar was in little doubt.
?In football, we all know that the home and away season is the one that matters. That is what we set out to do this year, win the Premiership and the right to gain promotion?.
?We knew we would need a strong squad to do so, with plenty of depth, and we needed that today?.
?There weren?t a lot of nerves either, we have trained well, and I could see it in the player?s eyes that they wanted this one. And after about three minutes or so, I felt we would be fine?.
Fraser Park 0 v Northern Tigers 4 (Max Glanville 4?, 30?, Liam McCreesh 12?, Tom Spencer 41?)
Sunday 19 August 2012
at Fraser Park
Referee: Khodr Yagi
Fraser Park: 1. Michael Frost 2. Rocci Gabey 3. Tommy Taylor 6. Ian Estavao (5. Ante Bakmaz 53?) 9. Leigh Gunn (28. W Panas 87?) 11. Carlo Musumeci 12. Andrea Russo 15. David von Dinklage 18. Wassim Hijazi 21. Anthony Villazon (14. Nikola Pozder 82?) 23. Robert di Meglio.
Subs not used: 35. H Brown 40. Wayne Estavao
Yellow Card: Leigh Gunn
Coach: David Perkovic
Northern Tigers: 1. Stuart Page 3. Jamie Lobb 4. Michael Rolston 15. Glen Downey 12. Rhys Williams 11. Adam Biddle 14. Brendan Salameh 16. Steven Baveas 8. Max Glanville (7. Adam Hett 70?) 10. Liam McCreesh (9. Tim Simpson 77?) 24. Tom Spencer (17. Will Thom 61?).
Subs not used: 5. T Reading 36. Brandon Bowd
Yellow cards: Nil
Coach: Jason Eagar
Dulwich Hill v Bankstown City FC
Dulwich Hill ended their Super League season with a gallant 3-2 win over Bankstown City FC at Arlington Oval, finishing the season on a comparative high after the travails of the past month.
Despite going a goal down to a Shannon Burgin effort on thirty minutes, Dulwich Hill brought themselves back into the game when Robbie Shields equalised ten minutes before half time.
Burgin again put the Lions ahead just after the break, but then James O?Rourke and Sunamoto scored twice within eight minutes to turn the tables on the Lions.
It was a disappointing end of the premiership season for Bankstown City, who have seen rivals Northern Tigers take the title after an epic contest.
Dulwich Hill 3 (Robbie Shields 35? James O?Rourke 57? T Sunamoto 65?) Bankstown City Lions 2 (Shannon Burgin 30?, 55?)
Bankstown Berries v Macarthur Rams
All four goals arrived in the first half at The Crest where finals contenders Bankstown Berries and Macarthur Rams drew 2-2.
It was the Rams who took the lead through defender Callum Fleming on twenty eight minutes but a flurry of goals just before the break saw both sides go in at 2-2.
Dimitri Zakilas drew the Berries level but two minutes later, diminutive striker Stefan Donevski put Macarthur in front for the second time. Within a minute though, the Berries had drawn level again when Brad Gibson popped up to make it 2-2.
Bankstown Berries FC 2 (Dimitri Zakilas 41? Brad Gibson 44?) Macarthur Rams 2 (Callum Fleming 28? Stefan Donevski 43?)
Granville Rage v Mounties Wanderers
Granville Rage claimed a top half finish after overcoming Mounties Wanderers 4-0 at Garside Park, ending the season just two points outside the five.
Two goals in the first half set them on their way, Mario Ghobrial and Andrew Vitucci netting for the Rage. Two late goals inside the final ten minutes dragged the scoreline out to 4-0, Jeffrey Issa and Suad Ameti the goalscorers.
Granville Rage 4 (Mario Ghobrial 35?, Andrew Vitucci 36?, Jeffrey Issa 81?, Suad Ameti 89?) Mounties Wanderers 0
St George v Spirit FC
It finished all square at St George Stadium where a goal right at the death by David Smith brought the Saints a point against Spirit FC in a 2-2 draw.
Sam Messam had given St George the lead, rounding the keeper for his thirteenth goal of the season, before Goran Ljuboja found the back of the net on twenty minutes.
Substitute Brima Kamara looked to have given Sprit all three points when he scored in the 86th minute, but a very, very late equaliser to David Smith made sure of a share of the points.
St George FC 2 (Sam Messam 9? David Smith 92?) Spirit FC 2 (Goran Ljuboja 21? Brima Kamara 86?)
Hills Brumbies v Sydney University
Sydney University found their goalscoring boots on the final day, Liam McConaghy getting a hatrick to finish off the season, as Uni triumphed 5-2 over Hills Brumbies at Blacktown Olympic Park.
The hatrick for McConaghy came in a rampant first half, and Uni went in three goals to the good. But Hills threatened a second half comeback with Dragan Savic scoring twice to bring it back to 3-2 with ten minutes to go.
But captain David McMurray and Paul Curjak, in the dying moments, made sure of the win for the Students.
Hills Brumbies 2 (Dragan Savic 49?,80?) Sydney University 5 (Liam McConaghy 13?, 29?, 40?, David McMurray 88?, Paul Curjak 92?)
Under 20s
Spirit FC claimed the 2012 Under 20s title with a comfortable win over St George, taking the premiership by two points ahead of Northern Tigers. Robert Polistina gave Spirit the lead on the half hour before Jacob Harris connected first time to a cross from Hayden Pronin to make it 2-0 before half time.
Despite winning 4-1, Northern Tigers remained in second. Two goals to Grant Lynch and one each to Matthew Castelnuovo and Mitch Ansems did the damage at Fraser Park, who replied through Franco Copeda.
Sydney University take third spot, after a 4-1 victory over Hills Brumbies, with Macarthur Rams and St George filling the finals positions.
There was an amazing scoreline at Garside Park where it finished 5-5 between Granville Rage and Mounties Wanderers. Ninos Eshow with two, and E Cappuccio, A Giancotti and D Brancati scored for the Rage while Mounties? scorers were Mervan Cakal with two, Joshua Ciabatti with two and Nathan Scicchitano with one.
GRADE 20: Bankstown Berries FC 1 Macarthur Rams 1, Dulwich Hill 3 Bankstown City Lions 3, Fraser Park FC 1 Northern Tigers 4, Granville Rage 5 Mounties Wanderers 5, Hills Brumbies 1 Sydney University 4, St George FC 0 Spirit FC 2.
-By Peter Rowney
