Round 1 Preview – PS4 NPL NSW Men’s U20

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There’s never been a better time to get to the ground early to support your club’s PlayStation4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s U20 side.

Make no mistake – although these fixtures are curtain raisers by nature they are by no means simply filler before the big occasion, and with Hyundai A-League outfit Sydney FC joining the fray this year the undeniable quality of young talent on display in the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s U20 competition is set to increase again.
This weekend reigning champions Sydney Olympic head to Bonnyrigg in a rematch of last campaign’s qualifying final, while the promoted Sky Blues will entertain host Rockdale City Suns at Lambert Park.
An exciting at Seymour Shaw will see two of last year’s strongest performers Sutherland and Manly lock horns while both Parramatta and Wollongong will look to improve on their inconsistent 2016 season when the two face off at Melita Stadium.
The match of the round is at Edensor Park where Sydney United 58 entertain APIA Leichhardt Tigers at Sydney United Sports Centre.
Match of the Round
Sydney United 58 v APIA Leichhardt Tigers, Sunday 6pm at Sydney United Sports Centre
Sydney United 58 may have been crowned PS4 NPL Champions of Australia last season but it was a different story for a vastly youthful U20 side who failed to mount a finals challenge despite claiming several big scalps throughout the year.
After finishing in eleventh position the Reds usher in the new season against an APIA Leichhardt side set on another top four finish after completing the 2016 season in third position. APIA matched it with the competitions finest at their best last year, spurred on by a sterling campaign from golden boot winner Duncan Stewart, but were eventually eliminated by Sydney Olympic in the semi-finals.
Sydney United Sports Centre was the scene of that heart-breaking 2-1 semi-final defeat to Olympic last year – the Tigers will hope this visit to Edensor Park will yield a more positive result.
Saturday
Sutherland Sharks v Manly United, 4.30pm at Seymour Shaw
The U20’s competition officially begins on Saturday at Seymour Shaw with Sutherland Sharks hosting Manly United and if clashes between the two in recent memory are anything to go by it should be an unmissable season curtain-raiser.
Manly United were well worth their Premiership victory after pipping Bonnyrigg, APIA and Sutherland to the post last season under the tutelage of Andrew Christiansen and the Cromer Park outfit will no doubt hold similarly lofty targets for 2017.
They’ll come up against the best defensive side from 2016 in a canny Sutherland outfit who saw the likes of Patrick O’Shea and Jack Press become first team members last season. Be sure to keep a keen eye out for youngsters of similar potential when the campaign begins at Seymour Shaw.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Sydney Olympic, 5pm at Bonnyrigg Sports Club
Bonnyrigg White Eagles endured a preliminary finals day from hell in 2016 where both U20 and 1st grade sides bowed out of the competition in heartbreaking fashion.
The U20’s were beaten 2-1 by a late Sydney Olympic winner on the occasion and will no doubt have revenge on their minds when the Blues arrive at Bonnyrigg Sports Club.
Olympic meanwhile will be out to begin their championship defence on the right note, and prove that last season’s unlikely victory was no fluke. It’s sure to be a feisty encounter in Bonnyrigg.
Parramatta v Wollongong Wolves, 5pm at Melita Stadium
Parramatta and Wollongong finished eighth and ninth respectively last season with neither side able to string together enough consistency to truly challenge the top five positions.
Both will hope the clean slate of the 2017 campaign offers improvement on several levels. Having consolidated their status in the top tier of the National Premier League this could the year for either Parramatta and Wollongong to make great strides in the club championship and in the U20’s competition.
Sydney FC v Rockdale City Suns, 5.45pm at Lambert Park
Rockdale City Suns never looked like escaping the bottom of the U20’s table in a disappointing 2016 season and they couldn’t have asked for a tougher draw to start the 2017 campaign beginning with a daunting away trip to Sydney FC on Saturday evening.
The Sky Blues ousted their rivals Western Sydney on their way to promotion and will fancy their chances at a perfect start to NPL1 life when they host Rockdale at Lambert Park.
Sunday
Hakoah Sydney City East v Blacktown City, 1pm at Hensley Athletic Field
2016 was a disappointing season for Blacktown City. Perennial heavyweights across all senior age groups, the U20’s fell victim to a remarkable second half of the season slump that saw the 2015 champions finish in sixth position.
Boasting one of the most talented rosters across the competition, nothing less than a top five finish will do for City who have been tasked with a difficult journey to Hensley Athletic Field to take on Hakoah Sydney City East.
Having achieved promotion to the NPL in 2015, Hakoah’s debut year in the top flight was one of steady improvement. The league newcomers often threatened the top five but tailed off in the back end of the season, eventually finishing seven points off fifth-placed Sydney Olympic.
-By Jacob Windon