Intriguing final round of NPL tomorrow

Photo:  Devonport coach Tom Ballantyne will be urging his players to finish the season on a high. [PlessPix] 

Tomorrow [Saturday] is the final day of the NPL Tasmania league season.

Devonport Strikers are the 2023 NPL champions, but second, third and fourth places are still undecided.

All four games are in the south of the State because the NPL and WSL awards dinner and presentation ceremony is being held on Saturday night in Hobart.

Devonport play second-placed Glenorchy Knights at KGV Park, while third-ranked South Hobart host Launceston City at South Hobart Oval.

Kingborough Lions United, who are fourth after seven wins in a row, entertain bottom-side Launceston United at Clennett’s Lightwood Park, and Clarence Zebras meet Riverside Olympic at Wentworth Park.

All games kick off at 2.30pm.

There are several possibilities.

If Knights lose or draw and South win, South will finish second and Knights third. Both sides have identical goal-differences, but South have scored more goals.

If Knights win they are assured of second place.

If Knights draw, South must win to claim second spot and a draw would not be enough.

Kingborough Lions United could finish third and relegate South to fourth.

For this to happen, South would need to lose and Kingborough would need to win by a sufficient margin to pip South on goal-difference.

It promises to be a fascinating final day of the league season.

That will be followed next weekend with a top-four finals series where first play fourth and second play third.

The grand final is the weekend after that at Valley Road in Devonport.

The Strikers will be hoping they qualify for the grand final.

NPL Tasmania (As at 2 September 2023)

TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Devonport Strikers	20	17	1	2	66	17	52
Glenorchy Knights	20	13	1	6	48	18	40
South Hobart	20	12	3	5	59	29	39
Kingborough Lions	20	12	0	8	62	36	36
Clarence Zebras	20	8	2	10	47	51	26
Launceston City	20	8	2	10	25	32	26
Riverside Olympic	20	4	1	15	19	74	13
Launceston United	20	0	2	18	14	83	2