After last season's clean sweep, we were left wondering where any significant challenge to the Willox Street Pirates' domination might come from. However, a resilient New Dundee Star, driven on by in-form Sigrun Kannis, matched them right up until the end. With Blue Coast no longer living up to their billing, now that the stream of cash seems to have dried up, it was beginning to look frighteningly as if the Super League was going to turn into a bit of a one horse race. Indeed it's true to say that the Pirates had yet another strong season, reaching the last sixteen of the Globe Cup, and the semis of the CEDC competition; but throughout the league phase of this SL-VII, The Stars kept them honest. Man for man the four times champions look like a solid side, with quality players, of a good footballing pedigree in every position. The addition of Quebecois striker Faith Bhukhwana has definitely given them another dimension up front this season, and having three established strikers has helped them cope with the demands of international club football. Other players to shine in the League Phase were; the rock solid Mellissa Cleves, Jenny McDonald, and striker Yunji. The rock solid Brenecian keep Cleves has turned out to be a bargain signing, after joining the club on a free transfer three seasons ago, and she was big player for them in the Globe Cup. New Dundee hadn't had the same luxury of being able to bring players in, but there is no doubting that they have strong team of players. Results like their 6-2 win at Kelsy proved that they can come up with the big wins. Once again striker Ross Jameson looked in good shape, as did the aforementioned Kannis. Some ten points behind The Stars were Sarrburgh, who earned their best league finish of the Super-League era. One of the nation's top sides back in the days of the Christopheran Premiership, The Boys have struggled over the last seven seasons. Despite this strong finish, they got nowhere near their Dundee rivals, and while they finished 3rd, they were a long way off the pace. The big shock this season however - more so that the Stars' second place - was the fact that Blue Coast seem to have fallen so far from grace. At one point they looked like they were in line to replace the Pirates as the big side in the Super-League, but now the wheels seem to have come off of the wagon somewhat. Their star players all look a little old and disinterested, Lucio isn't banging them in like he used to, and Aredhel Neil seems totally off the boil. The end result was that Coast limped home in at a woeful 6th place. The other sides to make up the play-off spots will have come as little surprise: Newport Sirens finished in a very respectable fourth. Kelsy will be happy with a solid sixth spot. And Tralend make the play-offs for the first time, sneaking in at eighth.
. Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Willox Street Pirates 18 13 3 2 41 12 +29 42 Qualified to play-offs; League-trophy; CC;CEdC
2 New Dundee Star 18 12 3 3 42 16 +26 39 Qualified to play-offs; GC
3 Sarrburgh Town 18 8 5 5 25 19 +6 29 Qualified to play-offs;
4 Newport Sirens 18 7 4 7 21 18 +3 25 Qualified to play-offs;
5 Kelsy Merchants 18 7 4 7 27 27 0 25 Qualified to play-offs; GC
6 Blue Coast 1981 18 7 3 8 22 23 −1 24 Qualified to play-offs; CC; CEdC
7 New St Johns 18 5 7 6 22 27 −5 22 Qualified to play-offs; GC
8 Tralend Co-operative 18 5 3 10 17 30 −13 18 Qualified to play-offs;
9 Christopheran Porty 18 4 3 11 21 39 −18 15
10 Kirston Eagles 18 2 5 11 13 40 −27 11
Play-Offs -- Quarterfinal
All matches played at a neutral venue.
Willox Street Pirates 2–0 Tralend Co-operative
New Dundee Star 2–2 New St Johns (4–4 AET) (6–7 pen.)
Sarrburgh Town 1–3 Blue Coast 1981
Newport Sirens 1–2 Kelsy Merchants
After their tremendous league season, there would have been a few long faces amongst the Stars players, going out on penalties to New St Johns in the Quarters. The league runners-up dominated the match, but a late Boyd Johannesen double in extra time took the game to penalties. New Dundee are guaranteed a Globe Cup spot because of their second place in the league, but this will still have been a bitter blow. The Pirates, fighting now on three fronts, had no such problems with a 2-0 win over Tralend. McDonald and Boötia were on target as the champions looked to defend their crown. In the other fixtures, Blue Coast made amends for their awful league season with a 3-1 win over Sarrburgh, and Kaden Jones-Brown struck late for Kelsy as they defeated Newport 2-1.
Play-Offs -- Semi-final
All matches played at a neutral venue.
Willox Street Pirates 2–0 New St Johns
Blue Coast 1981 3–0 Kelsy Merchants
The Pirates would have went into their fixture with The Saints as overwhelming favourites, and that indeed proved to be the case as they recorded a comfortable 2-0 win. The defending champions were through to their second play-off final as goals from Yunji, and Brain Stewart helped them past a defiant New St Johns. Their opponents dug deep, but in the end they were not able to stand up against this Pirates side. In the other semi-final both sides knew a Champions' Cup spot was at stake with the Pirates already through. Despite their poor run in the league, Blue Coast's aged international stars gave them the advantage however, and when the chips were down, they cruised past Kelsy Merchants. Jan Markus Hellensen scored a double as coast return to the Champions Cup after a two year absence.
Play-Offs -- Third Place Match @ The Willox Street Stadium
New St Johns 3–3 Kelsy Merchants (3–4 AET)
Super-Leage VI Grand Final @ The James Williams Arena
Willox Street Pirates 4–0 Blue Coast 1981
Two arch rivals facing it off in the Play-off final. It had all the makings of a tremendous game, but in the end Blue Coast were utterly humiliated by a ruthlessly efficient Pirates side. Melissa Cleves was barely tested in the end, as the 4-0 rout may in fact prove to be the end of Barry Gorman's three and a half year stewardship of the club. Coast looked at sixes and sevens, as the likes of Boötia and Brian Stewart ran riot. Pick of the goals however, was a stinging strike from young defender Tomas Nazario-Silva, which curled in past Pearl Endicott at her far post. After being pushed so hard during the league phase, there will be a little disappointment that the Champions weren't given more of a contest in the final. Whatever happens now, there will have to be a degree of soul-searching for Coast, as they contemplate where to go next.
Champions Cup: Willox Street Pirates, Blue Coast 1981
Globe Cup: Kelsy Merchants, New St Johns, New Dundee Star (as highest League finishers, of the sides losing in the PO-QF
Awards
Player of the Year:
1st: Jenny McDonald (WSP) Schottia
2nd: Boyd Johannesen (NSJ) Audioslavia
3rd: Sigrun Kannis (NDS) Nephara
4th: Yunji (WSP) Northern Sunrise Islands
5th: Melissa Cleves (WSP) Brenecia
6th: Boötia (WSP) Dainer
7th: Ross Jameson (NDS)
Golden Boot:
1st: 23 Yunji (WSP) Northern Sunrise Islands
2nd: 22 Ross Jameson (NDS)
=3th: 16 Lucio (BLC) Braziliana | | Faith Bhukhwana (WSP) Quebec
5th: 15 Boyd Johannesen (NSJ) Audioslavia
Young player of the year:
1st: Tomas Nazario-Silva (WSP)
2nd: Kira Nirie (TRL) Central Sunrise Islands
3rd: Rian Corrello (CPR)
4th: Darian Creek (NSJ)
5th: Gregor Borg (WSP) Anglatia
6th: Acacia García (NPS)
7th: Evelyn Conjure (BLC) Schottia
Manager of the year:
1st: Jimmy Mitchel (WSP) Schottia
2nd: Dane Stewart (NDS)
3rd: Johnas Bendt (KES)
4th: Neil Scorton (NPS) Schottia
5th: Catherine Sedgwick (TRL) Nephara