Dundas United tackle leaders Auburn District

23 Jul 10 @ 09:43am by Steven Deare

Dundas captain Leon Hall launches a slide tackle against Lidcombe Waratah. PICTURE: JOHN APPLEYARD

PREMIER League champions Auburn District has declared its intention to win the title again and doesn’t expect a resurgent Dundas to upset those plans on Saturday.

Auburn lead the premier league of the Granville association by seven points, and face fourth-placed Dundas at Progress Park, Auburn, on Saturday.

Auburn’s Steve Elriche, also club president, said the team was in a better position than the same time last year.

“We do have aspirations to go back to back,” he said.

“It’s something that hasn’t been done for a long time.

“And I think due to our youth (success) we’ll be repeating this on a frequent basis.”

He was confident of beating the blue and whites on Saturday.

“It’s a game we should win,” he said.

“They are sitting fourth and we beat them the first time comfortably, so we should win.”

Player-manager Houssan Hallak and midfielder Berhan Kassem have been key to the team’s success.

Hallak has enjoyed the respect of the squad since taking it to glory last year, while former youth league player Kassem has dominated the midfield.

Dundas captain Leon Hall was well aware of his opponents’ talents.

“They’ve always got quality players and are a hard team to play against,” he said.

“We’ve beaten them before but they got us in the first round.

“So we’re raring to go.”

The visitors will be boosted by midfielder Shawn Arkin’s return from injury against Lidcombe Waratah on Saturday.

Hall said he expected Arkin to start against Auburn, and would help Dundas’ chances of victory.

Dundas defeated Lidcombe 1-0 courtesy of a John Halliday penalty.

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