By Blake Jarrett

1st Grade – Weston Workers FC v Lambton Jaffas
Jack McLaughlan Oval
Sunday 14th September, 3:00PM
#NPLGF

This match will be streamed live on www.nbntv.com.au 

Bears Looking to Celebrate 50 Years in Style

Weston marked its 50th year in the top flight of Newcastle football with a celebratory dinner last month, but a Grand Final victory would taste so much sweeter.

The team had the chance to become Premiers in the final round against the Jets, however the Bears fifth draw of the season saw the side finish second. Combined with nine wins Weston finished on 32 points; two ahead of Lambton and two short of the Jets Youth.

The Bear’s experienced a positive finals series, defeating the Jets Youth and Lambton both 3-2 in weeks one and two, booking a Grand Final spot and a well needed rest last week.

Weston has met the Jaffas two other times this year. In Round 3 the side beat Lambton 2-1 to move to equal first and in Round 12 the side was held to a 2-2 draw.

The Bears have a host of players that are capable of standing up and guiding the side to glory in today’s match.

Keeper Tim Pratt has been exceptional in 2014. Although he only kept one clean sheet this season, the Bears shot stopper has an amazing record, limiting the opposition to just one goal nine times this year. A leg injury in the finals saw him virtually playing on one leg; the sort of character that exemplifies the Weston strength and spirit.

In front of Pratt is the league’s best central defending partnership in Carl Thornton and Nathan Morris. Both were named in the Bears Team of 50 Years, and have been rocks for the side this season. Both are handy in the attacking third as well.

Carl’s brother Liam, the side’s left back, has been a standout for the side in 2014. He has the ability to quickly develop positive attacking partnerships with whoever is occupying the left midfield position, and is also a quality defender.

The Bears also possess one of the most dangerous front pairs in Connor Evans and Jason Cowburn. Cowburn’s physical presence and Evans’ speed and skill are the perfect combination. Combined with both the player’s exceptional decision-making and shooting ability, the pair has torn teams apart on numerous occasions this year.

The Bears are in their first Grand Final since 2010 today, and Coach Steve Piggott is in his first since 2011 where his South Cardiff side lost to Broadmeadow Magic.

Weston has been one of the most exciting teams this season, so today’s match looks set to be a cracking affair as they take on a side who have defeated all before them, except of course the Bears.

 

Jaffas Determined to go one Better

In 2013 the Lambton Jaffas marked a return to the top flight of Newcastle football with a Grand Final appearance, which they lost to Broadmeadow Magic. This year they will not be satisfied with simply getting there; they are here to win it.

Nine wins and three draws saw them finish the season on 30 points, two behind the second placed Bears and four behind the first placed Jets. They went down in the opening week of the Semi Finals, losing 3-2 to Weston. They bounced back by defeating Charlestown 3-1 in the second week, and the Jets Youth 4-3 last week.

The Jaffas and their Grand Final opponents contested two close matches in the regular season this year. In Round 3 the Bears defeated them 2-1, then in Round 12 they drew 2-2.

One positive for the Jaffas is the quality crop of players they possess all over the park. Keeper Danny Ireland has been outstanding the past two years for the side from Arthur Edden Oval. This year he kept clean sheets in a third of the Jaffas matches. He is a tall physical character who wins nearly everything in the air, and is one of the best shot stoppers in the league.

At the back they possess arguably the strongest character in the league in Michael Sessions who is an intimidating figure, and an exceptional defender. In the heart of midfield they hold two of the most experienced players the league has to offer in Peter McPherson and Jobe Wheelhouse. The pair has the ability to control games with their decision making and composure, and is a key to the Jaffa’s success.

The side also has four attacking weapons any coach would dream of having in their side; John Majurovski, Dino Fajkovic, Alex Palozzi and Kale Bradbery. The four scored over half of the side’s goals throughout the year and all played a huge part in a successful finals series.

The Jaffas began the season extremely slowly, winning two of their first seven to sit in a low seventh position. They powered home with seven wins from eleven matches, and have been one of the form sides of the back half of the year. Today David Tanchevski’s side has the chance to mark their second year back in the top flight of Newcastle football with a Grand Final win. To achieve this they must overcome a quality Weston outfit, the only side they haven’t defeated in 2014.

 

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22 Years - Hamilton Olympic FC v Newcastle Jets Youth
Jack McLaughlan Oval
Sunday 14th September, 1:00PM
#NPLGF

This match will be streamed live here: http://youtu.be/iPXx_AKsCl0 

Hamilton Olympic had won the Premiership well before the last round of the season, and today look to complete the double.

With eleven wins from twelve rounds of football, Olympic looked as though the side could go through undefeated; however it wasn’t to be as Olympic lost three of the team’s last six matches.

Today Olympic face the side that defeated the team on penalties in the second week of the Semi Finals, the Newcastle Jets Youth, after hammering Edgeworth 5-0 in the rain last weekend.

The Jets finished the season in second, twelve points behind the Premiers. They dispatched Edgeworth 4-1 in the first week of the Semi Finals and then defeated Hamilton to book their place in the Grand Final.

During the regular season these two sides met twice. Both were high scoring affairs with Hamilton winning 6-3 and 4-2 in Rounds 9 and 16 respectively.

Expect as much action here today as the two best sides battle it out for the right to be called number one.

 

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19 Years - U16 Emerging Jets v Hamilton Olympic FC
Jack McLaughlan Oval
Sunday 14th September, 11:00AM
#NPLGF

This match will be streamed live here: http://youtu.be/NFJx-pw9MLs 

In the opening fixture of the day the U16 Emerging Jets take on Hamilton Olympic, the first of two clashes between these two sides.

The Emerging Jets won the Premiership by a comfortable seven points this season following 13 wins.

They beat Edgeworth in the second week of the finals to progress to the Grand Final today.

Hamilton was forced to take the long route to the Grand Final. In the first week of the finals they were beaten on penalties by Edgeworth. A week later it downed Weston 4-2, and then last week the side booked a spot in the Final by defeating the Eagles 2-0.

The Emerging Jets and Hamilton have met twice this year. The Emerging Jets won both games by a three goal margin; 5-2 in Round 9 and 3-0 in Round 16.

Expect today’s clash to be a lot tighter, as Olympic is known for rising in the big games. This is looming as an interesting opening to an extremely exciting day.