2001 National Talent Identification Championships

Western Australia’s Under-15’s got off to a flying start by thumping eight goals past the Northern Territory without reply. Inglewood United’s Michael Baczynski scored the first hat-trick of the tournament, Josh Kamasz bagged a double with the other goals coming from Adam Gangemi, Benjamin Rogers and Clive Fondyke. In other opening round Group A matches, Queensland opened brightly with a 4-1 win over the Australian Capital Territory, while South Australia were too strong for Country Victoria 2-1. In Group B New South Wales downed Country New South Wales 2-0, Victoria defeated Country Queensland 4-2, and Northern New South Wales came away 3-0 winners over Tasmania.

In Sunday’s second round of matches, Western Australia maintained their 100% win record by downing Soccer Canberra 3-1. Baczynski opened the scoring after 17 minutes but shortly after the interval Canberra were back on level terms when Adam Kasey netted. A 60th minute strike from Fondyke restored Western Australia’s lead and six minutes later Baczynski’s second of the day put the result beyond doubt. Queensland kept the pressure on their rivals from the west by beating South Australia 3-0, while Country Victoria got off the mark with a 2-1 win over the Northern Territory. New South Wales and Victoria both made it two out of two with wins over Northern New South Wales (3-1) and Tasmania (1-0) respectively, while Country Queensland defeated Country New South Wales 1-0.

Monday saw Queensland go two points clear at the top of Group A after they thrashed the Northern Territory 10-0. After two convincing victories, Western Australia were held to a surprising nil-all draw by Country Victoria, with South Australia hot on their heels after eclipsing the Australian Capital Territory 4-3 in an exciting match. In the other group New South Wales and Victoria continue to lock horns with both recording their third win from as many outings. New South Wales comfortable in beating Tasmania 3-0, and Victoria triumphant 2-0 over Country New South Wales. Northern New South Wales overcame Country Queensland 1-0 in the day’s other fixture.

The following day saw Queensland’s Under-15’s again show their class with a 5-1 victory over Country Victoria. In the days other big meeting, Western Australia confirmed their place in the semi-finals courtesy of a 1-0 win over South Australia courtesy of Rogers’ 65th minute goal. Who tops the group will be decided in the final round when the top two - Queensland and Western Australia - meet. Soccer Canberra beat the Northern Territory 4-0 in the days other fixture. Group B saw New South Wales book their place in the last four with a convincing 4-0 win over second-placed Victoria. Country New South Wales beat Northern New South Wales 1-0, and Country Queensland thumped Tasmania 4-0.

Day Five of the Championships saw Queensland produce a shock 4-0 win over Western Australia, all the goals coming inside the opening 32 minutes. South Australia finished the group phase in third place after trouncing the Northern Territory 8-0, with Country Victoria’s 2-2 draw with Soccer Canberra lifting them into fourth. There was also a surprise in Group B where Country Queensland downed New South Wales 2-1 to earn their place in the-semi finals on goal difference over Victoria and Northern New South Wales. Country New South Wales beat Tasmania 1-0 and Northern New South Wales outclassed Victoria 2-1.

The semi-finals were contested on Friday with Queensland triumphing over their Country counterparts, and New South Wales out scoring Western Australia to go through to the big one. New South Wales found the net twice in the first three minutes of play and from there Western Australia were always going to be on the back foot. In the minor placing play-offs, South Australia’s 3-2 defeat of Northern New South Wales saw them take fifth place, while seventh went to Victoria who downed their Country rivals 1-0. Country New South Wales were too strong for Soccer Canberra 2-0, while the Northern Territory and Tasmania shared eleventh after a scoreless draw.

The Under-15 Final was always going to a close match between two very good teams, and so it proved with scores finishing level at 0-0 at the end of regulation time. New South Wales came out on top in a tense penalty shoot-out 5-4 to be crowned National champions over Queensland. In the play-off for third and fourth, Western Australia proved too good for Country Queensland by 4-2. Jonathon Mathers gave the west coast side the lead after 7 minutes but quick goals from Tim Standley and Joel Torrisi gave their opponents a 2-1 lead with just 14 minutes gone. Baczynski equalised in the 35th minute and two minutes later Rogers restored Western Australia’s lead. Alex Crookes sealed the win early in the second half.

Under-15 Results

Under-15 Tour Appearances

Under-15 Touring Party 

In the Under-16 category, Western Australia were forced to make a couple of late squad changes when Nicholas Ward and Bryan Hedges opted to continue trialling in England, their places being taken by Wayne ‘Fred’ Wilson and Dominic Allen. The side started strongly with an impressive 3-1 defeat of South Australia with goals from Liam Lilly, Wilson and Scott Royal. Traditional rivals New South Wales and Victoria saw the host go down 2-1, while Country Victoria defeated Queensland 1-0 in the other Group A meeting. The Northern Territory were the biggest Day One winners, over-powering Tonga 5-0 in Group B. Northern New South Wales defeated Country New South Wales 2-0, and Tasmania beat the Australian Capital Territory with the only goal of the game.

Like their counterparts in the younger age-group, Western Australia continued their winning way into Day Two when they held off Queensland 3-1. Paul Oliver started the ball rolling when he netted after 15 minutes and Jeffrey Bright doubled the margin four minutes later. Dean Apelgren made it 3-0 after 71 minutes but just 60 seconds later Queensland bagged a late consolation goal via Russell Woodruffe. In other Group A matches, South Australia beat Victoria 2-1, while New South Wales and Country Victoria drew 2-2. Tonga were on the end of another hiding in the other group, this time 7-0 at the hands of Country New South Wales. Northern New South Wales downed Tasmania 2-1, and Soccer Canberra accounted for the Northern Territory 3-1.

With Group A looking set for a tight finish, Western Australia put themselves in the box seat when they made it three wins on the trot by beating Country Victoria 4-2. After a scoreless first half, Chris Zarricueta put the boys from the west in front a minute into the second half only to see Andrew Lawless equalise almost immediately. Vince Lia sent Country Victoria a goal up, but late strikes from Apelgren (70), Scott Migas (76) and Royal (80) gave maximum points to Western Australia. Three points behind the leaders are Victoria who looked solid in their 2-0 win over Queensland, while New South Wales came back into contention with a 1-0 win over South Australia. At the end of the third day’s play, Northern New South Wales wrapped up a semi-final spot with their 5-0 victory over Tonga, opening up a five point gap between themselves and the chasing pack in Group B. The Northern Territory upset Tasmania 2-1, with honours shared between Soccer Canberra and Country New South Wales who drew 1-1.

After Day Four of competition, Group A of the 16’s was still very much up for grabs with five teams in with a chance of progressing into the semi-finals. New South Wales defeated the previously unbeaten Western Australia 4-0 to rocket into second spot, Country Victoria defeated their city counterparts 2-1, and South Australia defeated Queensland 1-0. In Group B, the points allocated for the Tonga fixtures were removed as they can not progress any further in the tournament. Northern New South Wales remain unbeaten and are assured of a place in the last four after downing the Northern Territory 2-0. Soccer Canberra beat Tonga 8-0, and Tasmania moved into second spot with a 2-1 win over Country New South Wales.

Western Australia confirmed their booking in the last four on Wednesday with a 2-0 victory over Victoria, Matthew Danskin and Migas getting the goals. Joining them were New South Wales who accounted for Queensland 5-1, while Country Victoria’s 2-1 win over South Australia saw them take third place. Needing a win to progress to the semi-finals, Soccer Canberra overcame Group B leaders Northern New South Wales 3-2 to go through as runners-up. Tasmania thrashed Tonga 14-0, and Country New South Wales defeated Northern Territory 4-0.

With everyone enjoying a well-earned rest on Thursday, it was semi-finals and the minor placing play-offs the following day. After a scoreless first half, goals by Wilson and Zarricueta in the space of 17 minutes proved the death knell of Soccer Canberra as Western Australia progressed to the decider. Northern New South Wales overcame a strong New South Wales line-up in the other semi. South Australia took out fifth place by thrashing the Northern Territory 10-0, and Victoria’s 6-4 defeat of Country New South Wales saw they end in seventh. Tasmania took ninth courtesy of a 4-0 win over Country Victoria, and Tonga scored the first goal of their visit in the 1-9 loss to Queensland.

Northern New South Wales were crowned Under-16 champions by defeating Western Australia 1-0 in Saturday’s Final, a Bradley Hicks goal in the 44th minute eventually separating the sides. Third place was shared by New South Wales and Soccer Canberra who drew 1-1 earlier in the day.

Under-16 Results

Under-16 Tour Appearances

Under-16 Touring Party

Special thanks to Binesh Mudaliar (Soccer New South Wales) and Anita Bulan (Soccer Australia) for providing squad and match details.