The two big games in the NPL Tasmania this weekend are at opposite ends of the State.
Today, league-leaders Devonport City host fourth-ranked
title aspirants Hobart Zebras at Valley Road at 2.15 pm, while tomorrow
[Sunday], third-ranked South Hobart welcome second-placed Olympia Warriors to
South Hobart Oval for a 2pm kick-off.
Zebras beat Devonport 2-1 at Easter to inflict
the first defeat of the season on the North-West Coast outfit.
Devonport will be keen for revenge and a win
to keep top place on the standings.
They should be at full strength against a
Zebras team that has several injury concerns, including midfielders Dwayne
Walsh and Jordan Muller and defender Jan Charuza.
In that first meeting between the sides,
Zebras blitzed their opponents with two early goals and then held tight and
hung on as Devonport fought back desperately.
Devonport managed to pull one goal back, but
the second eluded them. The closest they
came was a shot against the crossbar.
The odds should be in Devonport’s favour this
time at their home ground and they should be able to get all three points.
Olympia beat South Hobart 2-1 in the opening
game of the season and know it will be hard to repeat the result away at South
Hobart Oval tomorrow.
“It’s going to be a big week in determining
where the title goes, I think,” said Olympia’s key midfielder and playmaker,
Jordan Scott.
“It’s good for us as we want to play against
the best teams as that’s where we feel we can test ourselves.
“Nothing’s changed [since our first meeting]
other than the odd player coming in or out.
“I hope it’ll be a good game for people to
watch. I don’t think our game plan
changes.
“It was good for us to get off to a winning
start for the season.
“We know what we’re up against and we know
just how difficult it’s going to be.”
South Hobart have several injury worries,
while important attaching player Jack Turner has decided to hang up his boots
for the season.
Alex Walter is out because of an ankle injury,
Gilly Desouza will be missing with a hamstring problem, and Declan Foley
appears to have a broken bone in his foot.
Striker Darcy Hall is still recovering from a groin
strain and will not play against the Warriors.
South Hobart coach Ken Morton said he can call
on several youngsters, including Kasper Hallam,. Brendan Lakoseljac and Sam
Berezansky.
“At the moment, we’re not the best team, as
results have shown, but on our day, we are one of the best teams in the
competition and have been for a number of years,” said Morton.
“We go into every game and treat every
opponent with respect and just concentrate on ourselves and work hard and see
if we can get the right result.”
Morton said Olympia were always championship contenders
and they have a very good squad this year.
“They’re well coached and well organised and
they certainly will be in contention and it’ll be a good game,” he said.
“They have the chance to go top, but if we win
the game it brings us closer to Devonport and it’ll be an interesting game.”
Clarence United entertain Riverside Olympic in
a bottom-of-the-table clash at 3pm at Wentworth Park today.
Clarence got their first win of the season
there (1-0) when the sides clashed at Easter and today’s meeting should be just
as close.
If Clarence can win, it will take them off the
foot of the table and dump Riverside there.
In the remaining game of the round, Launceston
City are at home at Buckby Landrover Park in Launceston against Kingborough
Lions United.
A draw is a distinct possibility in a game featuring
two teams that have yet to realise their potential this season.
NPL Tasmania (As at 27 April 2019)
TEAM
|
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
F
|
A
|
Pts
|
Devonport City
|
9
|
8
|
0
|
1
|
31
|
5
|
24
|
Olympia Warriors
|
9
|
7
|
1
|
1
|
29
|
7
|
22
|
South Hobart
|
9
|
6
|
1
|
2
|
35
|
10
|
19
|
Hobart Zebras
|
9
|
4
|
4
|
1
|
34
|
13
|
16
|
Glenorchy
Knights
|
9
|
3
|
2
|
4
|
20
|
19
|
11
|
Kingborough
Lions
|
9
|
3
|
1
|
5
|
16
|
20
|
10
|
Launceston City
|
9
|
1
|
3
|
5
|
15
|
19
|
6
|
Riverside
Olympic
|
8
|
1
|
0
|
7
|
4
|
30
|
3
|
Clarence United
|
9
|
1
|
0
|
8
|
1
|
62
|
3
|
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