Round 26 Preview – PS4 NPL 3 NSW Men’s

After what has been an incredible season of thrills and spills, producing an avalanche of 685 goals thus far and counting, the twenty-sixth and final round of the 2017 PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s competition is upon us, and tension surrounding the Club Championship, the Premiership, and the make-up of the Top Six Finals Series could not be greater.

Given it is the final round, all seven matches are scheduled to kick off simultaneously on Sunday, September 3, at the old-fashioned afternoon time of 3pm.

Let’s try to analyse not only the situation as it stands, but take a brief look at the range of scenarios that could potentially unfold at the completion of the final round this weekend.

The match-up that has the most riding on it will no doubt take place at Rydalmere Park, where Rydalmere Lions host Balmain Tigers.

Rydalmere Lions occupy top spot on the competition ladder on 64 points, only 2 points ahead of Fraser Park, and need to win in the 1^st grade encounter if they are to pick up the Premiership title.

Rydalmere Lions also occupy top spot on the Club Championship ladder, a mere 4 points ahead of Fraser Park, so additional victories in the earlier U/18s and U/20s matches will guarantee the club of the Club Championship accolade.

After looking a very good bet a month or so ago, Rydalmere’s two losses in their past five matches – against the Western NSW Mariners and Dulwich Hill – has allowed Fraser Park a sniff, so anything other than three victories across the three grades will of course leave the door ajar for Fraser Park to snatch either title.

Rydalmere’s opponents on the day, the Balmain Tigers, have their own agenda, and plenty to play for themselves.

Occupying the bottom rung of the Club Championship, recent improvement in their form has seen the Tigers bring themselves back to within striking distance of Granville Rage – they are only 5 points behind to be exact. So Balmain will be sweating on getting something out of each of the three games on Sunday vs Rydalmere Lions in order to give themselves a chance of PlayStation NPL 3 salvation.

Fraser Park will take on the hapless Inter Lions at home in Marrickville, eager to do the job in all three grades whilst they stay tuned to results at Rydalmere Park.

After a barn storming opening 19 rounds where Fraser remained undefeated, the club has managed just three wins from their past six matches in 1^st grade, giving Rydalmere Lions the ascendancy in both the PlayStation NPL 3 First Grade and Club Championship ladders.

Given what’s at stake, Inter Lions should provide little challenge for Fraser Park. Inter’s season has gone from bad to worse, with some heavy defeats in recent matches suggesting they will be no match for a rampant Fraser Park on Sunday.

Granville Rage’s recent results have hauled the club to second last place on the Club Championship ladder, just 5 points in front of Balmain Tigers, so they will be out to overcome Dunbar Rovers at Garside Park and maintain their PlayStation NPL 3 spot in the final wash up.

Three wins in their past four matches have shown a real desperation and commitment from Rage, helping them climb to 10^th position on the PlayStation NPL 3 ladder, behind Dunbar Rovers only on goal difference.

Given Dunbar Rovers are favourites to win both lower grade games given their respective positions on the ladder, there lies a greater emphasis on the first grade result going the way of the home side if they are to retain their spot in this league.

Are you still wanting more tension for this 26^th and final round this weekend? Well then let’s look at the Top Six, and the variations of it’s make up based on the potential outcomes of three matches specifically.

Hawkesbury City travel to Arlington Oval to meet Stanmore Hawks, knowing that anything short of a win will deem their 2017 campaign over and out.

The Hawks looked a good bet a month ago for their first finals appearance in a number of seasons, but they only have themselves to blame, losing three of their past four matches, tumbling to 7^th spot in the process on 38 points.

If Hawkesbury lose, or even draw, then results elsewhere are academic as the Top Six will have been decided. But a win by the Hawks will well and truly put the pressure on two teams directly above them.

One of those teams is Gladesville Ryde Magic, who are hanging on grimly to 6^th position on 39 points, just the one point ahead of the Hawks, and they will have it all to play for against an in-form St George City FA at Magdala Park on Sunday afternoon.

Magic’s first win in four matches last week against Balmain Tigers saw them hurdle Hawkesbury in to 6^th, and in the process, place destiny in their own hands.

It is quite straightforward for Magic – a win will confirm Finals football and could see the club finish as high as 5^th, whilst a loss could see them finish 7^th and out of the Finals if Hawkesbury City are victorious.

But St George City FA are a formidable opponent for Gladesville, given they have been very good value for their 3^rd spot on the ladder.

St George City FA can finish 4^th at worst if they lose and Dulwich Hill win, but they are carrying some awesome form in to the Finals on the back of six wins and a draw in their past seven matches.

The irony of this clash is that the two clubs could very well face each other once more in Week One of the Finals depending on results elsewhere.

SD Raiders currently occupy 5^th position on 41 points, and a draw against Dulwich Hill on Sunday at Sydney United Sports Centre will guarantee them a semi-final berth.

But a loss, and wins for Hawkesbury City and Gladesville Ryde Magic, could see them miss out altogether, so expect nothing less than a very committed approach by the Raiders.

Dulwich Hill booked their spot in the finals a couple of weeks ago, but don’t expect them to lie down and rollover – evident in last week’s 5-1 hiding of Rydalmere Lions. Dully can snatch 3^rd spot with a win here, and will look to carry that momentum into week one of the finals series.

The match between Western NSW Mariners and Sydney University will take place at Jack Brabham Park, and has little bearing on the 1^st grade ladder.

Sydney University gave it one almighty shake in the final weeks coming within a whisker of making the Finals, falling short on the back of last week’s 1-3 reverse against Fraser Park. The Mariners on the other hand have had a disappointing last few weeks, losing 3 and drawing 1 match since their surprise 3-2 triumph over leaders, Rydalmere Lions.

However, with 21 Club Championship points up for grabs across the three grades, mathematically speaking, both Balmain Tigers and Granville Rage can surpass not only the Mariners, but also Inter Lions and Stanmore Hawks, at the foot of the Club Championship, given the gap between last and 10^th is 20 points.

So there it is, the final weekend of competition proper offering up so many different type of scenarios that could impact and produce so many different types of outcomes.

Who will be crowned 2017 PlayStation NPL 3 Premiers?

What will the final make-up of the Top Six look like?

Who will find themselves at the summit – as well as the base – of the coveted Club Championship ladder?

All will be revealed by 5pm this Sunday afternoon, so get out to a ground near you and see it all unfold!