Steve Hudson Cup kicks off on Sunday

The northern Steve Hudson Cup pre-season competition kicks off on Sunday at Launceston’s Birch Avenue grounds in Newstead, with two southern clubs also involved this year.

South Hobart and Taroona will be wending their way north each weekend to do battle with their northern opponents.

Early indications are that South Hobart will relish the challenge as it will enable them to use some members of their squad who are on the fringe of senior selection and also to rotate their senior players.

It may be a different kettle of fish for Taroona, who already seem to be hit by injury and player unavailability.

Taroona have a massive task in staying competitive in the southern Premier League after winning promotion last year, so one can only admire them for taking on this extra challenge of turning out each weekend in Launceston.

Ulverstone, from the North-West Coast, are also to be admired for leaving their own turf to contest this cup as that region has its own pre-season tournament starting shortly.

The series is hosted by Launceston United and is named in honour of a former goalkeeper of the club, who was injured during a game and subsequently died as a result of those injuries.

The competition is divided into two groups:

Group A: Launceston United, Taroona, Northern Rangers, Ulverstone

Group B: Launceston City, South Hobart, Western Knights, Riverside Olympic

Sunday’s schedule is:

10.30am: Launceston City v Western Knights

12.30pm: Ulverstone v Northern Rangers, and Launceston United v Taroona

2.30pm: South Hobart v Riverside Olympia

Launceston City will be coached by former Young Socceroos captain Kurt Reynolds and they should be too good for Western Knights in the opening match.

Ulverstone will test northern league champions Northern Rangers in the second game, while at the same time, there will be little to separate Launceston United and Taroona.

South Hobart should come away with the spoils when they take on Riverside Olympia.