Knights and South Hobart top their Summer Cup groups

Photos (Top to Bottom): Knights' James Sherman (right) shields the ball from Taroona's Marcus Atkinson; Jacob Huigsloot raises his arms after scoring for Knights; Daniel White marked his Knights debut by being sent off; Referee Craig Phillips tosses the coin before the South Hobart versus Tilford Zebras match; Zebras' Ben Crosswell sets off on a run watched by team-mates Adam Young and Ryan Smith and challenged by South's Jim Pennicott and Bart Beecroft; Kostas Kanakaris shoots past Troy Kaden for the only goal of the game [PlessPix]

The 2010 Summer Cup competition commenced at South Hobart today in cool temperatures and with a few showers hanging about on the slopes of Mt Wellington.

It was hot on the field, though, with one send-off and several yellow cards issued.

Danny White, newly signed by Glenorchy Knights from Whittlesea Zebras in Victoria, lasted a mere 53 minutes against Taroona before being sent off by referee Ivan Jozeljic for offensive language.

Knights were already 3-0 up by that stage and it barely mattered from the point of view of the outcome.

But, White will now be suspended and miss next week’s match against Clarence United.

The Knights’ volatile midfielder Corey Smith also got himself booked and will obviously have to be careful for the remainder of the tournament.

Knights had James Sherman in midfield and he opened the scoring in the 20^th minute with a free-kick from 30 metres.

In the 26^th minute, Taroona failed to clear a corner and the Knights’ new signing from Clarence, Jacob Huigsloot, blasted home the second goal to make it 2-0 at the interval.

White added the third shortly after the resumption with a neat prod from close range after a cross from the left by Will Roberts.

Knights often played with just one out-and-out striker, while Taroona were ultra cautious and often had three defenders at the back marking no-one.

Taroona could have embarrassed the Knights had they taken the chances that came their way, but hesitation, slow thinking and poor finishing cost them dearly.

Marc Gates missed two excellent openings, including one where he lobbed the keeper, only to see the ball come back into play off an upright.

On another occasion, a mix-up between Knights keeper Alex Tatnell and Anthony Grundy left Gates with an open goal, but he reacted too slowly and the chance evaporated.

Taroona’s Hugo Luttmer also had a shot well saved by Tatnell.

Knights go top of Group B, but they will need to do better than this to reach the final.

There was little understanding at the back between keeper Tatnell and his defenders and better sides than Taroona will punish them.

South Hobart were more efficient than Tilford Zebras and that was the main difference between the sides in their Group A match.

South again did just enough to win, but they will need to work on their finishing as Jonathon Lo and Kostas Kanakaris missed easy chances.

It was Kanakaris who scored the only goal of the game when, in the 25^th minute, he was put clear on the right and beat the advancing keeper, Troy Kaden.

There was a hint of off-side about the goal, but it was allowed to stand and ultimately settled the contest.

Zebras had few chances, the best coming when Adam Young forced a brilliant save from Sam Kruijver.

Ben Crosswell played in midfield for Zebras. He would surely have been far more effective up front.

In the Reserve section of the competition, Glenorchy Knights beat Taroona 4-0 through two goals by Mathew Nowicki and one each by Yan Fuentes and Cosmos Paite.

South Hobart strolled to a 3-0 victory over Tilford Zebras, Seth Otte netting twice and Andy Brennan once.