Round 2 Preview – PS4 NPL 3 NSW Men’s
The cobwebs have been cleared and the nerves have settled as we enter Round Two of the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s competition this weekend.
There is an even spread of three matches on Saturday and the remaining three on Sunday, the games themselves being played across two different timeslots on each day.
The opening match of the round is at Sydney University Football Ground, where Sydney University welcome the visit of Stanmore Hawks, for the Saturday afternoon clash, kicking off at 3-00pm.
Stanmore will be riding a wave of enthusiasm on the back of the opening day victory over the Mariners, and will be looking to continue their positive start on Saturday afternoon.
The ‘students’ have had a tough week, coming unstuck in the opening round against Hills Brumbies, and being knocked out of the FFA Cup on Tuesday night. But they do have enough quality in every department to reverse the trend and get their first points this week at home. If skipper, Tommy Hyde, and experienced shot stopper, Daniel Conway, can marshall their backline to avoid conceding, they have enough firepower in the front third to determine a victory.
Dulwich Hill will have their work cut out on Saturday night at Arlington Oval when they face the might of Rydalmere Lions, the clash commencing at 7-00pm.
Dully would be hurting from their first round match, letting a seemingly comfortable 3-1 lead slip, allowing Granville Rage to snatch a late point – no doubt coach Norman Tome would’ve spoken about the importance of a 90 minute focus, especially against a side such as Rydalmere.
The Lions came flying out of the blocks last weekend, scoring eight without reply, with four players helping themselves to goals, but they’ll know that Dully will be a different proposition on their own turf. Both teams love to attack, with plenty of weapons across their respective front thirds, so it’ll be a cracker of a spectacle for the neutral.
In the other Saturday night match, it is Granville Rage who will make the trek out to Proctor Park to face Western NSW Mariners at 7-00pm, neither side managing a victory on the opening day, but both showing enough determination and structure to suggest three points won’t be too far away.
in the solitary match that pits together two first round victors, Inter Lions entertain Hills Brumbies at Fraser Park on Sunday afternoon, the match kicking off at 3-00pm.
The artificial surface will be conducive the type of football displayed on a futsal court, which is very opportune given the array of futsal players on show, lead by the mercurial Lachlan Wright (Inter Lions) and Greg Giovenali.
Hills come in to the match full of confidence given their 4-1 victory in Round One, and look to have carried on the form that saw them finish near the top of the league in 2015.
Inter Lions have put the disappointment of recent seasons behind them and are a focussed and determined group this year. An opening day victory at Hawkesbury was a great start to 2016 – the Lions have an opportunity to show if they are the real deal if they can manage to stem the Brumbies’ tide.
Balmain Tigers and Gladesville Ryde Magic will meet on Sunday afternoon at Magdala Park, kicking off at 3-00pm, in a game between two first round losers.
Both Tigers and Magic had heavy defeats on Day One, leaking twelve goals between them, so look for a much more sturdy and determined performance from both sides come Sunday.
Hensley Park will host an intriguing match on Sunday evening, with the later than usual kickoff of 6-30pm.
Newly promoted Dunbar Rovers welcome the visit of Hawkesbury City in a match that promises plenty.
Dunbar have started 2016 with a real bang, backing up their opening day victory away at Gladesville Ryde Magic with a midweek Westfield FFA Cup 4th Round triumph over Hills Brumbies, and will be buzzing to play their first home match of the season in front of their fans.
But Hawkesbury are full of experience at this level, a side that will be still hurting from their opening day loss to Inter Lions. You can expect Dean Bertenshaw’s men to have regrouped during the week, and to come to Hensley Park on Sunday intent on getting their league campaign off the mark.
PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s Top Goal Scorers
3 – OWUSU, Lloyd (Rydalmere Lions)
3 – STEENBERGER, Joey (Rydalmere Lions)
2 – CEJKAA, Peter (Hills Brumbies)
A remarkable twenty seven (27) goals were scored in Round One of the season, with Rydalmere Lions pair, Owusu and Steenberger, making an early dash to the top of the scorers charts with opening day hatricks.
