Round 18 Preview – PS4 NPL 3 NSW Men’s
We are moving very rapidly towards an exciting season’s end as we approach Round Eighteen of the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s competition, with the six scheduled matches split evenly – three matches to be played on both Saturday and Sunday.
All eyes will be at Rydalmere Park where Rydalmere Lions await the visit of Hills Brumbies in the match of the round, the much anticipated clash kicking off at 7-00pm on Saturday evening.
Rydalmere Lions will be fresh not having played last weekend due to the washout at Hawkesbury, and keen to continue their run of wins, now totalling four in succession.
Currently occupying 4th position on the competition ladder, Rydalmere sit 11 points behind the Brumbies, but have two matches in hand on the league’s leaders. By winning both of those and closing the gap to five points, you can see why success in this match is paramount if Rydalmere are to have a realistic crack at the Premiership title.
Hills Brumbies on the other hand have quietly and consistently been going about their business, opening up a hefty lead at the summit, and pleasingly for them, starting to tighten up in defence as well. Three points in this match and they will have one hand on the Premiership trophy.
We were treated to an extravaganza the first time these two teams met, the match producing ninety minutes of entertainment plus, with Hills Brumbies prevailing 6-3 after the Lions went down to ten men after suffering a first half red card.
With some of the league’s best attacking weapons on show, and plenty at stake, get out to Rydalmere Park on Saturday night and strap yourselves in for what promises to be a game to remember between two of the competition’s heavyweights.
In the other two matches on Saturday evening, both scheduled for 7-00pm kick offs, Dulwich Hill will be confident of continuing their improved performances of late when they take on a Sydney University side backing up from a midweek match against Inter Lions, the game to be played at Arlington Oval, whilst Granville Rage hope to win in front of their fans at Garside Park when they face a stubborn but effective Stanmore Hawks team, keen to maintain their top four momentum.
Two matches on Sunday are scheduled for a 3-00pm kick off, whilst the other, Dunbar Rovers versus Western NSW Mariners, will kick off at 5-00pm at Hensley Athletic Field.
Dunbar had a convincing 4-1 triumph over Inter last weekend, with a brace of goals from David Desmond, as well as a superb team goal eventually netted by Rene Mrva that took in to account a multitude passes, .
A similar performance for the Rovers at this time of the season will do very nicely indeed, as they look to continue their surge towards the top of the ladder.
Lady luck has simply got to smile on the Western NSW Mariners eventually, given their increased application to the task at hand each week. The effort and focus has been there for Andrew Fearnley’s side, evident in the closeness of the scorelines, but narrow losses are still losses, so I’m certain at this stage of the season they will happily settle for an average performance if it means they can somehow take home all three points.
In the two other matches on Sunday afternoon, Gladesville Ryde Magic can expect a tough battle at Magdala Park when Hawkesbury City come to visit, the Hawks eager to bridge the gap between the two in a real six-pointer for the visitors, whilst Inter Lions face a tricky road test at Wentworth Park against a much improved Balmain Tigers, whose results of late show they will be more than a match for an Inter side backing up after a midweek match against Sydney University.
MIDWEEK RESCHEDULED MATCH – Round 15
Sydney University – Inter Lions 3-2
Sydney University consolidated their spot in the top five with a dramatic come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Inter Lions on Wednesday night.
The rescheduled Round 15 clash started brightly for Inter Lions, who raced to a two goal lead inside the opening quarter of an hour.
Daniel Fornito was the chief destroyer for Inter, firstly getting on the end of a quick counter attack to beat Uni keeper, Carl McMahon with a powerful strike, and then nodding home after a neat cross to make it 2-0 before the ‘students’ could react.
After weathering that initial storm, Sydney University dragged themselves back in to the match slowly but surely, and reduced the deficit when Scott Tonkin rolled the ball home after getting on the end of a Domenic Di Mento cut back.
Just before the break Sydney University drew level, when the same protagonists combined for 2-2. Di Mento passed to Tonkin who this time played provider, laying it off for Daniel Mifsud to score a powerful equaliser.
An arm wrestle ensued after the break, both teams struggling to make an impact on the bumpy surface, however Sydney University stole the match at the death. A patient build up saw Adrian Porcu release Johhny Gowdy, whose teasing cross was headed home by Scott Tonkin to send the home fans into delirium. The goal was Tonkin’s 13th of the campaign, and puts him third on the list of top goal scorers in the competition.
The loss sees Inter lose ground on the top five, now seven points in arrears with five matches to go, whilst the victory and subsequent three points sees Sydney University climb to 29 points, maintaining fifth spot on the competition ladder with a three point gap to Gladesville Ryde Magic.
