State League Two Round 1 Preview
State League 2 round one kicks off this weekend with Fairfield City Lions sitting on the sidelines with the bye while the action heats up from the heart of Sydney to the South Coast coves.
University of NSW takes on state league newcomers Enfield Rovers in an interesting start to the 2013 season at David Phillips Field on Saturday afternoon (first grade 5pm kickoff). While Enfield can boast great success at an association level the jump into state league makes them a virtual unknown for the first month of football. At the other end, Uni of NSW has been around for quite some time and comes back to division two after a six year stint in state league 1. Both teams will be keen for a solid start to the new year ahead.
Old rivals Southern Bulls take on Schofields Scorpions in what should be a passionate affair at Ernie Smith Reserve on Sunday afternoon (3pm kickoff). The two clubs first locked horns in state league one a decade ago and their 2011 reunion saw Fairfield Bulls beat Scorpions 2-1 at Hajduk Stadium at the first re-run. Schofields have gone on a three game winning streak since then, beating Bulls 3-1, 3-0 and 3-1 to hold the wood over their foes, so expect some fireworks this time around as Southern look to settle the scores.
Western Condors start the season with the competition’s biggest road trip as they journey down the freeway to meet Southern Branch at a pristine South Nowra Football Complex on Sunday afternoon (3pm). Condors may have many identities (formerly Fairfield/Colo Colo Wanderers, Granville Chile, Fogolar, etc) but they always show the same commitment to entertaining football and will be out to give debutants Southern Branch a state league lesson. But with the football rich south coast, southern highlands and tablelands as your nursery, the ‘Branch’ has plenty of talent at its disposal to turn the tables on any unsuspecting opponent.
John Howard was prime minister the last time Hurstville FC and Belmore United met in a Football NSW competition, the two historic clubs running into each other in division one back in 2006. But while time can erase the memory it can never ignore a good rivalry and the Hurstville-Belmore derby at Hurstville Oval on Sunday afternoon (3pm) should be a close encounter as both sides look to impress early on in the year.
Well, look who’s back in town – the good ol’ derby between Stanmore Hawks and Hurstville City Minotaurs living up to all expectations at Arlington Oval on Sunday afternoon (3pm). These two clubs would put on a field day whenever they met in the Super League days of a decade ago, drawing thousands and thrilling the crowd with their stubborn encounters (two 0-0 draws and a win apiece from their 2004-05 meetings). It’s been a while since their last hit-outs in 2008 division one and while Stanmore has bit the bullet to accept its current state league 2 position, don’t expect Hurstville to lay out any sort of welcoming mat to a competition it’s been dwelling in for six straight years. This match-of-the-round should be an absolute cracker.
-By Dan De Nardi
