COURTESY MANNING RIVER TIMES

Round 19 fires up this weekend. Just 3 games to go for teams jostling for finals positions. Who will get the minor premierships, who will make the 4, who has a finals series beginning today?

The 2nd Grade competition is still tight for that 4th spot. Tigers fought hard for an all important draw against Norths Blues last week which keeps thier finals chances alive. They have a tough encounter this week against leaders Norths, and if they lose could find themselves 4 points behind 4th placed Souths, who have a relatively easier matchup with University. so a season defining game for Tigers this week, which makes the Tigers v Norths clash this authors match of the round. Norths have been the gun side in this grade for years, consistently being in the top 2 year after year after year. They have a team bristling with talent and in fact could be a more then competitive HCPHL team if they were to compete in that competition. But they are in 2nd grade, and they are the benchmark. Tigers need to raise the bar on thier performances this season if they want to take something out of this game. In the two matchups this season Norths have scored 11 goals and Tigers have scored 3. It is a must win game for Tigers, and so it is expected this game will again involve a lot of passion and commitment. that wont be enough though, and Tigers will need to develop a plan to stop the space and free flowing hockey Norths are used to playing. Disrupt that pattern and they will have a real chance of an upset, and keep thier season alive. If your at the NIHC around 4pm Sunday, dont miss this clash. In other matches Souths play University, Norths Blues play Wests. Maitland get the week off.

3rd Grade top 4 has been determined. Crusaders and Port Stephens cannot finish out of the top 2, so they will jostle for the last 3 rounds for that minor premeirship, although Crusaders have the advantage being 1 point ahead. Souths and Norths have secured 3rd and 4th, it just remains to see who will finish 3rd or 4th come the last weekend. The match of the round will see Port Stephens taking on Wests. Despite Wests sitting bottom of the ladder, they have proven a difficult team for Port Stephens to beat this season, with the first game ending 2-0 in favour of the hornets (that result later changed to a 3-0 win after the result had been changed by the grading committee) but those goals coming late in the game. The second clash saw Port Stephens escape with a 2-1 victory after Wests took an early 1 goal lead. Wests have beena  funny side this year, one week they have played some great hockey but then back up the following week with a shocker. If the team could of rasied some consistency they would be much more competitive and possibly jostling for finals positions. Port Stephens have been the big improvers this season, moving from a possible finals contender in 2008 to a genuine contender in 2009. Port welcomes back a couple of key players this week, with Paul Baxter, Ben Salisbury and Graydon Hubbard coming back into the squad and this should strengthen the midfield. Wests will be looking to prove they have what it takes to mix with the top teams, whilst Port Stephens will be looking to keep the goal scoring momentum going as the finals approach. In other games, Cessnock play Crusaders and Tigers tackle Norths. Souths have the bye.

The 4th Grade competition is still very tight, with the top 3 all hoping to end the season on top of the pile with just 3 points seperating first to 3rd. The 4th place battle is still very much alive, with Port Stephens having the advantage but a tough run in home, whereas University take on the bottom 3 clubs in thier last 3 matches. Should be an exciting run in and that 4th spot is likely to be determined on the last day of the regular season. This weeks big game is likely to be the clash between 1st and 4th, with Colts playing Port Stephens. Port Stephens surprised a few people earlier in the season when they defeated Colts 4-1, but Colts were a little undermanned in that matchup. They should be at full strength for this game. Port have been plodding along nicely, with some of the young fellas stepping up and taking more responsibility on the field in the absense of some key senior players out through injury and suspension. Colts know a win will see them establish a solid claim on that minor Premiership. For Port, anything but a loss will nearly guarantee them a spot in the finals, so there is plenty at stake in this clash. Plus Port Stephens and Colts have had a very healthy rivalry over the years so it should be a highly entertaining game with Ports youngsters up against the experience of Colts. In other matches, Norths play Maitland, Tigers tackle Wests and Souths will compete with University. Crusaders get the bye.

5th Grade top 4 are well and truelly established, with Crusaders, Cardiff and the two University teams a cut above the rest of the opposition in this competition. The top 4 all play the bottom 4 this week, so its difficult to establish a match of the round, although the University v Colts clash is likely to be the game with the most interest. Colts would of been challenging for a top 4 position except for a handful of gradings breaches that saw the team docked plenty of points and effectivley ended thier season. As a team however they are very competitive and will be a big challenge for University. A loss for University and they are likely to end the season in 4th spot, however a win and they have the opportunity to compete with Retreads for a 3rd spot finish and the advantage of having to be beaten on the scoreboard to be eliminated from the minor final. A draw in the semi's, the higher ranked team goes through to the enxt round, so its an important position to finish in. In other matches Crusaders should continue thier unbeaten run against Maitland, Cardiff should have little trouble over Tigers, and Retreads should get up over Port Stephens.

6th Grade battle for 3rd and 4th is very tight, with University, Crusaders and Cardiff all challenging. The top 2 are almost confirmed with Maitland and Wests enough points ahead to qualify for the major semi final. The big game this week sees Maitland taking on Crusaders, 1st v 4th. A big rivalry has developed between these two teams this season due to circumstances both on and off the field. Maitland will be keen to establish they are the best team in this grade, whilst Crusaders willw ant a win to remain in the top 4. The teams have split thier results this season, with a 3-1 win for Crusaders in round 5, and a 5-2 win to the Rams in round 12. Maitland are on the back of a 8 game winning streak, whereas Crusaders form has been a bit shaky with one win from thier last 4. In other matches, Cardiff tackle Tigers, Wallies take on Wests, Colts play University.

Support your team this weekend. Get down to the NIHC, buy a drink or two, and cheer your team on with passion, but do it sensibly  :)

COURTESY MAITLAND MERCURY

The Maitland Rams were slightly off their game on Sunday and Premier League front runners Norths made them pay at the Newcastle Hockey Centre.

The Rams were defeated 4-1 by the defending premiers but coach Peter Lovell said it could have been a completely different story.

“We should have lead at half-time, no risk,” Lovell said.

The Rams were unable to convert the many opportunities they were creating.

“It was one of the most frustrating games because we did not really play badly but we were just five per cent off the pace from the last few weeks.

“If we had of done what we have the last two weeks we could have nearly had the game won by half-time.”

But it was not to be for the Rams as things did not quite fall into place.

The positive thing for Lovell was that the Rams were creating chances throughout the round 18 fixture against the competition’s leading team.

And when it did click, albeit late in the match, the Rams slotted their sole goal after trailing just 1-0 at half-time.

With three matches remaining the Rams have all but secured fourth spot and a semi-final berth after the fifth placed Tigers lost 4-1 to the Entrance.

In other results Souths comfortably accounted for Wests 5-0 and University pushed Gosford in a high scoring affair that saw the more fancied Central Coast team hold on for a 6-4 triumph.