Action continues in Launceston and begins on the Coast

The third round of matches in the Steve Hudson Cup in Launceston this Sunday features some intriguing matches.

The holders, South Hobart, take on fellow southerners the Tasmanian Institute of Sport at 1pm.

South Hobart are in action the day before against Tilford Zebras in the southern Summer Cup.

This will be a difficult game for South Hobart and the TIS may find their opponents tired and less effective than usual.

The TIS have a win and a draw from their two games to date, which is a credit to the youngsters.

TIS are second in Group A and South Hobart are first.

TIS will find South Hobart a handful and a draw is probably the best they can hope for.

Taroona, the third southern side in the competition, have done extremely well and have won both their games, which puts them on top in Group B.

They will have played in the Division One Summer Cup competition in the south the day before and this trip to Launceston to take on Northern Rangers, second in Group B, will test their resources and commitment.

Former Clarence United star Paul Bremner will make his debut for Northern Rangers. He has impressed at training.

Derek Schipper and goalkeeper Marshall Pooley will also make their debuts in this competition for Rangers.

Thataetsile Kakadumane is not yet match fit and will be given another week to get up to speed.

Andrew Nicholson returned last weekend after two years out of action and played extremely well.

Rangers are nowhere near full strength yet but should be worth at least a draw in this game.

The squad is: M Pooley, J Wilson, G Tams, R Prestidge, S Nugteren, P McBeath, O Aykiran, D Rieser, S Luck(captain), A Demeijer, M Bami, T Hingston, D Schipper, A Nicholson, P Bremner and M Ambrose.

“The team are shaping up well and the boys have been working very hard in training,” said Rangers coach, Roslan Saad.

“The healthy competition for a place in the team is most welcome by any coach.

“Competition are so tough that players that join in late usually will take at least two weeks before they can get close to the rest in terms of fitness and system of play.

“That explains why TT [Thataetsile Kakadumane] is not selected.

“We conceded two goals in the first game and one goal last week, so no goals conceded is the target for this week.

“I believe we can get a close win against a good team like Taroona if we compete for everything and try to win the individual battles and put them under pressure.”

Third-placed Launceston City take on last-placed Riverside Olympic in the other Group A game at 11am.

In Group B, third-placed Prospect Knights meet last-placed Launceston United at 2.30pm.

The North-West Coast Summer Cup competition begins on Saturday with two matches at Devonport’s Valley Road.

At 12.30pm, Ulverstone meet Burnie, while at 2.30pm, Somerset are up against Devonport City.

Both should be tight contests.