WGC Cranes Amateur’s League Division One Grand Final

Port Kembla Pumas vs Uni Wolves

Macedonia Park

Kick-off: Saturday, 4:15pm.

Referee: Mark Toole

The Port Kembla Pumas will enter their 13^th consecutive grand final this weekend when they take on Uni Wolves at Macedonia Park in the Amateur’s Division One Grand Final.

The astonishing achievement gives the club a chance to add yet more silverware to the cabinet after finishing as league champions in the last three seasons.

Since the club was founded in 1997 by Orlando Chiodo, Lino Leone and Albert Ciocci they have reached 15 grand finals and developed a reputation of winning around the team.

“It’s been a journey, and a good one at that,” said founder and manager Orlando Chiodo.

“We’ve won the league championship for the last three years but missed out this season so we’re just trying to win something now.

“It’s been a bit of a messed up season with the weather. It’s been an up and down season and we only missed out on the championship by three points in the end.

Uni have got youth on their side and we’ve got the experience.

“At the end of the day there’s going to be one winner and one loser. We’ve lost our fair share of grand finals so winning the grand final would be a fantastic achievement for the club.”

The Pumas finished their season in third, three points shy of winners Oak Flats and part of a very tight top four.

Port defeated Fury FC 3-1 in their semi-final to qualify for this weekend’s clash against Wolves; a side they battled with during the season.

In the first outing back in May Uni came away 3-2 winners and in their second round fixture the two sides played out a 1-1 draw.

Wolves qualified for the finals in fourth place meaning that neither the league champions nor runners-up will feature in this season’s Grand Final.

Uni were able to defeat the league champion Oak Flats 3-1 in their semi-final to progress.

“It was a good result against Oak Flats last weekend, they’re a good team with some great players,” said club manager Adam Potts.

“The top four was so close at the end and we knew we could beat them because we hadn’t lost to them all year.

“We’re feeling pretty positive about the final, they’re a strong side and we’re a strong side but we’re confident we can get a win on the weekend.

“We had a pretty solid year, only three losses but dropped a few points with some draws and this is our first Grand Final in a while.

“I just hope it’s another tough game against Port, it always is and that’s football how we want it.”

The two clubs have plenty of experience to rely on with Port’s rich history giving the side a boost in finals scenarios.

Meanwhile, Wolves are taking part in their fourth consecutive finals series and are hoping to take home the trophy in what will be their first Grand Final in 10 years.

 

Amateur’s Grand Final Day

Division Two

Macedonia Park 1

Mates Utd vs Warilla Hotel

Kick-off: Saturday, 11:45am.

Mates Utd face Warilla Hotel in this weekend’s Amateur’s Division Two Grand Final.

Warilla successfully progressed to the final with a thumping 3-0 win over league champions the Dandaloo Gurus while Utd overcame the Albion Park Cows 1-0 in a tight game.

Mates Utd finished the season in second spot with Warilla in third but there was just a single point separating the teams after the final round.

During the regular season the two clubs clashed on two occasions with Warilla taking both games with first a 2-1 victory in May and then a 1-0 win in July and the players can take confidence from the previous fixtures heading into the game.

Division Three

Macedonia Park 1

Coledale Waves Pink vs Sandon Point

Kick-off: Saturday, 9:45am.

This year’s Division Three Grand Final is as expected with the two teams who finished first and second facing off.

Coledale took out the league championship on goal difference over Sandon Point after the two clubs finished on an even 38 points at the end of the regular season.

Results between the teams were similarly close during the year with Coledale taking out the opening fixture 1-0 before Point ran out 2-1 winners when they met in June.

Both teams progressed to the final with 2-1 wins in their respective semis where Coledale defeated Port Kembla Massive and Sandon Point were winners over Illawarra Stallions.

Division Four

Macedonia Park 2

Russell Vale Utd vs Uni Diggers

Kick-off: Saturday, 10am.

Run-away league champions Russell Vale Utd take on the Uni Diggers in this season’s Division Four Grand Final.

Russell Vale finished the regular season undefeated and 10 points clear of Uni who were down in third spot after the final round.

The league champions earned a 2-0 win over South Coast United in their semi-final to progress while the Diggers played a hard fought 3-2 victory over the Oak Flats Flame.

Russel Vale will feel confident heading into the game after defeating Uni 2-0 in both their games during the regular season.

 

O/35’s Division One

Macedonia Park 1

Port Puma Kings vs Russell Vale FC

Kick-off: Saturday, 2pm.

Port Puma Kings will look to seal the League Championship/Grand Final double when they face Russell Vale FC in the O/35’s Division One Grand Final this weekend.

The two clubs were neck and neck for much of the year with the Kings eventually earning the championship by three points over Russell Vale in second.

Port overcame the Austinmer Beroccas 2-0 in their semi-final as Russell Vale ran out 4-1 winners in their semi against the Bulli Masters.

The Kings did the double over Russell Vale when the sides met this season; running out 2-1 winners in both games.

O/35’s Division Two

Macedonia Park 2

Dandaloo Hoodoos vs St Elias OB

Kick-off: Saturday, 2:30pm.

League champions the Dandaloo Hoodoos take on second placed St Elias OB in the O/35’s Division Two Grand Final this weekend.

The Hoodoos finished 9 points ahead of St Elias this season helped in part by some positive results against them during the campaign.

Dandaloo earned a 2-1 victory over St Elias in May before the two sides drew 0-0 towards the end of the season.

St Elias qualified for the final with a 3-2 win over Kemblawarra Krocs in their semi as the Hoodoos were 2-1 victors over Northern FC in theirs.

O/35’s Division Three

Macedonia Park 2

Wollongong City Vipers vs Fernhill FC

Kick-off: Saturday, 12:15pm.

Wollongong City Vipers face off against Fernhill in this weekend’s O/35’s Division Three Grand Final.

Fernhill were unlikely qualifiers after defeating the league champion Burgh Hogs 2-0 in their semi-final; a side that finished 11 points above them in the regular season.

Meanwhile, Wollongong City beat out the Figtree Titans 3-2 a tight semi-final clash to progress to the final.

During the year the two clubs clashed twice with Fernhill winning both games, first with a 2-0 win during April and then a 3-2 victory in June.

 

Julian Keith

FSC Reporter