In Week four of this term we sent the college futsal development squads down to the FNSW Futsal Schools Championship in the the Sutherland event.
The Sutherland round of this competition is viewed as the strongest of all contested regions with the winners from each age group usually going on to win the overall state championships, which only the grand finalists from each region qualify for.
A record number of entrants in the regions event matched with the format of the days meant we had to be at our best in each match played and the teams didn’t disappoint with three teams already qualifying for the state championships to be held in August.
Day 1 saw our Under 12 boys and our Under 11 boys competing up in the 13 boys division, playing against boys generally bigger, faster and stronger. This didn’t stop them from giving each of their opponents a very tough match.
Despite outstanding performances in all matches, both teams were unfortunate not to progress to the final stages but they certainly showed they will be a real force in the events still to come.
Results
11 Boys
Inaburra Silver 8-0 win
Amity College 1-0 loss
Newington College Wyvern 2-1 loss
TIGS Boys Red 2-1 loss
12 Boys
Emanuel School 3-2 win
Inaburra Blue 4-2 win
International Grammar School Boys 2-2 draw
TIGS Boys Blue 2-1 loss
Day 2 got underway with high expectations for our Open boys and girls sides, and they certainly backed these up. Our boys side was split into two on arrival to fill an empty slot within another pool. This did change the way in which the boys were to be run for the day, but allowed us extra game time for all the players which was very valuable, with both sides progressing to the quarter finals. If these guys continue to perform the way they did in this event, they will certainly secure their place in Penrith and will be extremely difficult to beat.
Meanwhile, our Open girls side went into the competition confident with three players from the 17 girls State League-winning side bolstered by the addition of three other players including Allyssa Togo-Paragalli from our under 14s girls side.
The confidence was warranted, going through the pool undefeated with 24 goals for and just 3 against in the four short matches, then continuing this form in the semi finals through to a dominant 5-2 win in the grand final versus a strong Endeavour Sports High side with goals to Emily Diaz (3), Tamar Felsch and Allyssa Togo-Paragalli.
Results
Open Boys Blue
GRC Oatley 6-4 win
Blakehurst High School Green 5-1 win
Strathfield High School 2-1 loss
Endeavour Sports 6-2 win
Quarter Final vs Blakehurst High School Blue 4-3 loss
Open Boys White
PAC 2-2 draw
Blakehurst High School Red 6-0 win
St Charbel’s College 2-1 loss
Quarter Final vs Kirrawee High School 3-0 loss
Open Girls
GRC Oatley 3-1 win
Endeavour Sports 2-2 draw
Kirrawee Red 6-0 win
Jannali White 13-0 win
Semi Final vs Kirawee Blue 4-1 win
Grand Final vs Endeavour Sports 5-2 win
Day 3 was the 16 boys and girls turn. The boys started the day very strongly, winning four of their five pool games in convincing fashion, and pushing the well-drilled and eventual winners from Belmore Boys High School to what was likely their toughest match of the competition progressing onto the quarter finals, but going down to Blakehurst High despite another impressive performance.
The 16 girls started slowly going down to Caringbah High followed by a nil-all draw with Sylvania despite the ball rarely leaving the front half. The girls got into their groove by the final pool game beating Sylvania High School to sneak into the semi finals.
An exciting semi final against Endeavour Sports High ended 1-all going into golden goal extra time, with Ruby Kesteven scoring a fantastic goal early to finish the tie 2-1 and progress to the final.
The grand final saw our girls face off against a Kirrawee High team that featured four members of the National title-winning NSW girls futsal team, so the Kirrawee were firm favourites to take the win. This didn’t deter our girls from creating several scoring chances throughout a very even match, unfortunately conceding late in the game with the girls going down 1-nil, but finishing in very high spirits rounding out what was a fantastic match and day as a whole.
Results
16 Boys
Kirrawee Red 3-1 win
Belmore Boys 3-1 loss
Jannali White 2-1 win
Blakehurst Purple 3-0 win
Blakehurst Red 8-0 win
Quarter Final vs Blakehurst Yellow 2-1 loss
16 Girls
Caringbah High Green 6-2 loss
Kirrawee Green 0-0 draw
Sylvania High School 4-2 win
Semi Final vs Endeavour Sports 1-1 draw (win by golden)
Grand Final vs Kirrawee 1-0 loss
Day 4 we took three sides down to Sutherland. Our 14 girls team made up mostly of 11 and 12 year olds was in for a big task competing with the 14 year olds in their division, a prospect that didn’t phase the girls. Starting strong with a 1-1 draw, with the ball barely leaving the front half of the pitch, just struggling to find the net. A win in their second game placing them in a good position to move through to the finals.
In the third and final game the girls moved the ball around confidently, once again controlling the match. Unfortunately this time the opponents size caught them out on one occasion, enough to take the pools solitary semi finals berth from the girls. The day was filed with positive signs for the team who will be very tough to beat at both the Central Coast and Dural events to come, if they continue to play the way they did.
With nearly 60 teams in the boys division it was an extremely difficult prospect to make the final stages of competition.
Both the 13 boys (steered by Stage 6 student, Bailey Chaplain in his managerial debut) and the 14 boys put on several impressive displays, both going through their pools undefeated. But as is the cruel nature of these competitions on the table, this still wasn’t enough for the 13 boys to progress to the finals, getting knocked out of the event by one goal.
The 14 boys on the other hand managed to go on to a strong 5-0 win in the quarter finals. They progressed into the semi final against Endeavour Sports High. At full time the scores remained tied at 1 all, the match went into golden goal extra time, with Tristian Bellemare securing the boys place in the grand final and a position in the state championships.
The grand final saw the boys lined up against Endeavour Sports High once again, resulting in a very even and exciting final, which very easily could’ve gone either way. With great play from both sides, each had their chances to win the game, with the spoils going the way of Endeavour Sports this time winning 2 goals to 1. With these performances these will be the two teams to beat in Penrith, and it will be anyone’s guess who will come out on top.
Results
13 Boys
Kirrawee Preston 2-0 win
Endeavour Sports Yellow 5-0 win
Inaburra 0-0 draw
Newtown Red 2-2 draw
14 Boys
Kirrawee Liam 9-0 win
Caringbah High Green 4-0 win
Endeavour Sports Red 0-0 draw
Jannali White 6-0 win
Quarter Final vs Kirrawee 5-0 win
Semi Final vs Endeavour Sports 1-1 draw
Grand Final vs Endeavour Sports 2-1 loss
14 Girls
John Therry 1-1 draw
Blakehurst Red 1-0 win
Kirrawee 1-0 loss
It was a great four days of futsal in Menai, with two more opportunities for our teams to further develop and grow, with the Niagara Park chapter of the event next week and the Dural event soon after.
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