This years Premier division is not as good as it was last year, so far as quality team performances and depth. It seems a few teams have gone into rebuild mode and the promoted team has struggled to compete.
Chilliwack, trying to repeat what Langley did last year, are half way there and are looking comfortable to take first spot overall should their current form continue. They seem to have found what it takes to get the job done each and every week and have group of lads that continually work hard for one another. They are beatable, but it will be difficult to break them down defensively and at the same time keep them contained up front.
Langley is not as good as last year, but still one of the better teams in this division. A few new younger faces would indicate some rebuilding going on and with that, usually comes the price of dropping a few points along the way. By the end of the season I would expect this team to finish strong, so if they are one of your last games during the regular season...Beware!!
Lions much better effort this time around though the team is not that different. A couple of faces are new or have been regenerated, but all in all the same. I personally thought they were a little unlucky last year in some games I watched, but those results have turned around for them this season so far. I also believe a few teams took these guys for granted this season and will be much more attentive the second time round. Top half finish, but maybe not a provincial spot.
PAU have added some younger boys from the CAT program and are utilizing the system well. Still one of the more dangerous teams up front, but are starting to give up an awful lot more at the back than the PAU teams we have seen in the last 4 - 5 years. Having said that, on any given day, this team can beat anyone in this division. Top half finish but will struggle to get a provincial berth if they continue to concede as many goals in the second half of the schedule.
GEU impressed me the first time round. One of the few teams that I believe have improved this year over last while still rebuilding. Many new faces with some of the veterans moving along to Masters I think. I am surprised to see them lose four games. I know you can only base your opinions on limited exposure to some of the teams, but based on the first encounter, I would see them challenging strongly for a provincial spot come April.
Delta Metro have been a little unlucky in some of the bigger games and have faltered to put teams away when the opportunity was there for the taking. We definitely have the speed and talent, but our experience is lacking in areas and our desire to win as a team has been questionable. We are not grinding out the results that we have in the past and it has been a frustrating first half of the season for both players and coaches alike. Last year was the first time since being back in the Premier division that this team did not qualify for Provincials and we must have a better second half to put us back on course.
Poco have had a total melt down from what I've seen from their results and heard. I was absent from our first game so I can not comment too much. Obviously another team in the stages of rebuilding, but it seems to have affected them more than others. They will be looking to improve on the first half dramatically and keep away from the drop zone.
GN Sport have not improved at all with their merger with SUFC. With rain and cold weather imminent, this team will do well to avoid the bottom half of the table come the end of the season. Lots of individual talent, pace and technique, but not a scooby when it comes to the fundamentals. Somedays they click and somedays they don't. If only they could put their finger on the reasons why they do and build on it, they could and would be much better than their current record indicates. As LFC2 would say.. "definitely under coached."
Dewdney are probably the worst team I've seen in Premier in a long time. They were much better when we played them in the pre-season. Not sure if it was an off day or what, but they have started to put points on the board in recent weeks which would indicate some sort of revival. They will need to sign some quality if they really want to compete at all in this division. The first season is always going to be tough and any points they take in the second half will be crucial toward their survival in the top tier.
Whalley is a team I like. They have character and the determination to pull out results when it matters. They have lost some key players to other clubs and injury and apparently the bleeding is yet to stop. Not a point from eight games is a huge mountain to climb, but not impossible. Again a team that needs to sign decent players to compete at this level or they will find themselves in the same position year after year. They will be fighting it out with bottom teams to avoid the drop and will need all the luck they can get.
Cheers