South Australia come out on top in NTC Challenge

The next crop of up and coming players were on show during the week at the Australian Institute of Sport with the annual National Training Centre (NTC) Challenge.

The NTCs are talent identification and player development programs run each state to prepare players for the U17s and U20s national team selection.  

The NTC Challenge pits State against State to assist national selectors in picking the U17 and U20 Australian National teams.

Taking place from 25 - 29 August 2014, the teams played two matches a day vying for position on two tables:

• a results based table; and
• a bonus table with up to 24 points per game available to teams. Points were awarded based on technical content and proper execution of play.

A final was played on the last day with the winners of the results table taking on the winners of the bonus points table.

With likes of FFA Assistant Technical Director and Matildas Assistant Coach Ante Juric present, an unbeaten Ross Aloisi led South Australia prevailed on both fronts, a feat never before achieved.

To cap off a memorable week, South Australia went on to defeat Northern NSW (second on the bonus points table) in the final.

In good news for Adelaide United members of their W-League side were prominent with Emily Condon, Isabel Hodgson and Lauren Steer scoring the majority of the goals while W-League debutant Dylan Holmes was named Player of the Tournament.  

Queensland goalkeeper and Brisbane Roar's Tegan Micah took out the Goalkeeper of the Tournament award.

 Final Tables

 Results 

Bonus Points

ACTAS  = ACT Academy of Sport; FFT = Football Federation Tasmania; FFV = Football Federation Victoria; FW = Football West (WA); NNSW = Northern NSW; NT = Northern Territory; SA = South Australia

Photo Gallery (Images thanks to Craig Stockdale)

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