Match of the Round
Charlestown Azzurri v Lambton Jaffas
Lisle Carr Oval, Sunday 11am
Charlestown Azzurri head coach Josh Rufo will be using a strong performance in the Hahn Australia Cup as a stepping stone to give his side ample opportunity for growth, as they prepare to welcome Lambton Jaffas to Lisle Carr Oval on Sunday morning.
The Blues come into the match sitting in eighth, having had both their round 13 and 14 matches postponed due to wet weather conditions. The side got back on the pitch for the first time in nearly a month on Saturday, losing 1-0 to Edgeworth Eagles in the Hahn Australia Cup.
The side will have a difficult period to negotiate throughout the next month, hosting the likes of Belmont Swansea United and Edgeworth while travelling to face improving sides in Cooks Hill United and Valentine FC.
But for Rufo, it’s a good chance to put his new structures into practise quickly, the side delivering a strong performance against Edgeworth.
“The football was probably the best football that we've played since we've been together as a group,” Rufo said.
“Work rate was high. Attitude was really good. There's a positive mood around the team. I've had an opportunity to work with the players for a couple of weeks now, so I have a better understanding of their qualities.
“It's about putting that into practice and then being consistent week in, week out. Nothing really needs to change. Ultimately, it's up to us. We've just got to approach each game in the right frame of mind.
“Dave's a good coach. He's done a good job with Jaffas. They've got some really experienced players, probably some of the top players in the competition. I'm expecting a really competitive match.”
The Jaffas, meanwhile, will have to navigate kickstarting their regained form with only their second match in four weeks, the side having their round 13 clash postponed before losing to Broadmeadow 2-1 at Magic Park in heartbreaking fashion.
The performance still impressed head coach David Tanchevski, the side holding momentum for most of the game and asking many questions of the defending champions.
With wins over Adamstown Rosebud, Newcastle Olympic and Kahibah FC in the last few rounds of NPL NNSW action, the visitors will hope the chance to get back on the pitch will see them pick up where they left off as they prepare for a tricky fortnight against improving sides in the Buds and Valentine.
“We [were] really happy with the way that we played,” Tanchevski said after the loss to Broadmeadow Magic.
“I'm looking forward to getting back on the pitch and getting the team together again. I think the boys would like to get straight into it.
“Just knowing that we can match the top teams. If we play like that week in, week out, I think we can beat anyone on the day, including finals football.
“We did the same thing last year, and then we made the grand final from coming eighth a few weeks out of the [end of the] season.
“We know if we get our form at the right time, we can play, and we've got the people on the park that can do it.”
Adamstown Rosebud v Broadmeadow Magic
Adamstown Oval, Saturday 2pm
Broadmeadow Magic head coach Jim Cresnar says he is expecting an enthusiastic, physical clash this weekend as his side heads to Adamstown Oval on Sunday to take on an improving Adamstown Rosebud side.
The defending champions have opened up a solid six-point lead at the top of the table, but have been well challenged over the last month, overcoming determined opponents in Charlestown Azzurri, Edgeworth Eagles and Lambton Jaffas.
The fact Magic have still been able to pull wins, multiple times in the closing stages of games, despite being out-enthused on several occasions speaks volumes as to how much winning has become a habit under Cresnar.
But their winning streak was finally ended in their round 13 catch-up game with an improving Valentine FC last Saturday, the Phoenix coming back from a goal down to equalise in stoppage time and hold Magic to a 1-1 draw.
With the Buds on the comeback trail themselves, Cresnar knows his side is going to have to show up hungry on Saturday.
“The preparation's been good,” Cresnar said.
“Our aim is to make sure we match the enthusiasm that Adamstown can provide and match their level of energy as well. Last time we got outplayed with a lot of their energy and enthusiasm.
“That winning culture that we've got in the team, the ability for us to have that resilience and tenacity to work hard, it's quite amazing to find a way to win.
“They [Buds] probably want to have a transition-type game as well. For us, we’ll just continue doing what we're doing well and [focus on] the areas that we need to work on.”
The month of May has been one of significant improvement for the Buds, the side backing up a valuable 2-2 draw against Belmont Swansea United to post consecutive victories for the first time this year, scoring two goals apiece in their wins over Charlestown and Newcastle Olympic.
The fact they have also managed clean sheets in both games will also be a shot in the arm for the side’s confidence and belief, with head coach Chris Moylan prioritising an effective game plan delivery and discipline in their results.
The side did experience a small setback during the wet-weather weekend, being knocked out of the Hahn Australia Cup in a 1-0 loss to Kahibah FC at Fred Wright Oval.
But the focus on NPL NNSW results has pushed the Buds out of the relegation zone of the table, and pending other results this weekend, they could climb as high as seventh should they maintain their form and hand Magic their second loss of the year.
Weston Bears v Belmont Swansea United
Hunter City Motor Group Stadium, Saturday 2pm
Weston Bears will have a tough assignment on Saturday at Hunter City Motor Group Stadium as they face a dangerous Belmont Swansea United side in a battle for second place on the table.
Both sides come into the weekend experiencing mild slumps in form over the last month, with Broadmeadow Magic opening up a six-point lead at the top of the table as a result.
This weekend looms as arguably one of the most critical fixtures in the context of both sides’ seasons, with the Bears holding a one-game advantage over BelSwans despite both sides sitting on the same number of league points.
The hosts have dropped three of their last four games at home against Maitland FC, Broadmeadow Magic and Valentine FC, the fourth match in question a 2-2 draw against Edgeworth Eagles, kickstarting an inconsistent period of form across May.
Off the back of two back-to-back Hahn Australia Cup fixtures including a 1-0 win over Edgeworth to progress to the round of 32, the hosts will be looking to win their first home NPL NNSW game since round five, but they will be up against one of the most dangerous sides on the road so far this year in BelSwans.
Kicking off a long second half of the year on the road, the visitors finally conceded their first away loss of the year in round 14, going down 2-1 to Maitland at Cooks Square Park.
But they bounced back well in their round 13 catch-up game, winning 3-1 over Cooks Hill United at Fearnley Dawes Athletics Field last Saturday to draw level with the Bears on competition points.
Should they walk away with victory on Saturday, BelSwans will climb over the Bears into second place.
Edgeworth Eagles v Cooks Hill United
Jack McLaughlan Oval, Saturday 4.30pm
Edgeworth Eagles will look to reclaim their fourth-placed position on the table when they welcome Cooks Hill United to Jack McLaughlan Oval on Saturday afternoon.
Edgeworth have had their last two games in the NPL NNSW postponed due to wet weather conditions, their last match being a thrilling 3-2 loss to Broadmeadow at Magic Park. The result has allowed Maitland, off the back of consecutive wins, to climb over the Eagles into fourth place.
Despite holding a two-game advantage, the Eagles will be determined to put those upcoming games to good use.
They will welcome a Cooks Hill side that has bounced back strongly in May after a slow start to the season, the side securing three consecutive victories over Adamstown Rosebud, Kahibah FC and Maitland FC to sit in seventh place, just three points behind finals challengers Lambton.
But their strong form was abruptly ended last week at home by a resurgent Belmont Swansea United, a goal to returning striker Kane Woolston the only highlight as the visitors ran out 3-1 winners.
The result looms as a critical one for both teams, with four teams sitting within striking distance of overtaking Cooks Hill should they lose this weekend.
Maitland FC v Valentine FC
Cooks Square Park, Saturday 4.30pm
Maitland FC will be looking to close the gap on the top three and consolidate their finals position when they welcome Valentine FC to Cooks Square Park for the final match of Saturday afternoon.
It looms as one of the most intriguing clashes of the round for several reasons, with the Magpies coming into the match off a big win in the Hahn Australia Cup over Northern Storm, and a 4-0 win over Kahibah FC to progress to the round of 32.
The hosts have put their mid-season slump firmly in the rearview mirror, with impressive consecutive victories against Weston Bears and Belmont Swansea United seeing the side hit their stride at the right time.
But if there has been one side that has been hard to quantify in the 2026 season, it has been Valentine.
The sides played out a 1-1 draw earlier in the year, with the Phoenix enduring fluctuating form, especially at home. But the last month has seen the young side produce their best football so far this year, starting with a solid run of results on the road.
Having not dropped an away game since their round seven loss to Kahibah, Valentine has picked up victories over Weston and Charlestown Azzurri, holding BelSwans to a draw at Blacksmiths Oval.
With the side pulling a critical 1-1 draw out of the fire at home last Saturday against Broadmeadow Magic, all signs are pointing to a Phoenix team growing in confidence, and it’s coming at the right time as they look to push themselves out of the relegation zone.
Newcastle Olympic v Kahibah FC
Darling Street Oval, Sunday 11am
Newcastle Olympic’s new head coach, Alex Tagaroulias, will be hoping to hit the ground running in his first match in charge as his side prepares to welcome a similarly desperate Kahibah FC to Darling Street Oval in the final match of the weekend.
Both teams will come into this match hungry for results, with the hosts having a busy fortnight off the field as Tagaroulias moved from his Technical Director role into the head coach role following the departure of Michael Bolch after their 2-0 loss to Adamstown Rosebud.
The loss sees Olympic slip to their third consecutive defeat after back-to-back losses at home to Lambton Jaffas and Weston Bears, sitting in a precarious position on the table just above an improving Adamstown and Valentine FC.
They will also be without striker Jared Muller this weekend, who will be serving a one-match ban following two yellow cards against the Buds.
But if there is a team hungrier than Olympic to turn around their NPL form, it would be newcomers Kahibah.
Following their round seven win over Valentine, Kahibah have endured a difficult middle of the season, with consecutive, competitive losses against the top three sides being followed by a drop in form in big losses to Cooks Hill and Lambton.
The five-match losing streak in NPL, however, has been interlaced with success in the Hahn Australia Cup, the Rams managing wins over Lambton Jaffas and Adamstown before their 4-0 defeat to Maitland FC on Wednesday night.
The loss to Maitland also came with red cards to captain Robbie Turnbull and goalkeeper Issac Quinn.
But while sitting at the bottom of the table, the Rams still have the chance to leap back up quickly if they can capitalise on a critical period of action.
On top of having two matches in hand to catch up on, the Rams also have a favourable run of games over the next four weeks, giving them plenty of runway to get on a roll should they find a circuit-breaking win.