Friday, April 5, 2019

South Hobart and Devonport both have to show us what they've got on Sunday



Photo:  Iskander Van Doorne in South Hobart livery after playing for Hobart Zebras last season.  At today's media conference, he said home-ground advantage should help South Hobart, his new club, which he joined after maintaining contact with Ken Morton while visiting his homeland, Canada. [PlessPix]

Reigning NPL Tasmania champions Devonport City face their biggest test yet this season when they travel south on Sunday to face South Hobart at South Hobart Oval at 2pm.

Devonport are currently top of the standings, 2 points ahead of second-placed South Hobart and third-ranked Olympia Warriors, and with a game in hand.

If the North-West Coast side can beat South Hobart, they will clearly be this year’s title favourites.

Both teams should be at full strength and home-ground advantage may just tip the scales in South Hobart’s favour.

Glenorchy Knights host Kingborough Lions United at Grove Road tonight at 8.15pm and both sides are evenly matched.

Knights are fifth and a point ahead of the Lions on the standings, but Knights have played two more games than their opponents.

Knights have defender George Hallard out suspended, while his central-defender partner, Tyler Harrison, may not be available through injury.

Callum Brown is still doubtful for the Knights and Kingborough will probably start as slight favourites.

Seventh-placed Riverside Olympia are at home to fourth-ranked Hobart Zebras at Windsor Park at 1.30pm tomorrow in a game that Zebras must win if they are to stay in title contention.

They will be hoping for the return from injury of midfielder Jordan Muller and the availability of Luke Huigsloot.

Given Zebras’ poor form in front of goal last weekend against Launceston City, they are far from a shoo-in and Riverside will have some hope of an upset.

Second-last Launceston City host Olympia Warriors at Buckby Land Rover Park in Launceston at 4.30pm tomorrow and City will have been heartened by their draw with Zebras last Saturday.

Olympia will have goalkeeper Kyle McDonald back from suspension but Lucas Hill is still likely to miss as his broken nose is not fully healed.

City represents a dangerous opponent for the Warriors, despite their second-last position, and strikers Noah Mies and Greg Roller will test the visitors’ defence.

NPL Tasmania (As at 3 April 2019)

TEAM
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Devonport City
5
5
0
0
18
1
15
South Hobart
6
4
1
1
25
5
13
Olympia Warriors
6
4
1
1
21
5
13
Hobart Zebras
5
2
3
0
17
5
9
Glenorchy Knights
6
2
1
3
13
13
7
Kingborough Lions
4
2
0
2
11
6
6
Riverside Olympic
5
1
0
4
4
15
3
Launceston City
5
0
2
3
7
13
2
Clarence United
6
0
0
5
0
53
0

2 comments:

Final score said...

Knights 2-2 Boro
Riverside 1-4 zebras
City 1-4 olympia
South 3-0 port

Anonymous said...

Walter,

Kingborough will only be favourite in 1 game for sure Vs Clarence and maybe vs Riverside at the den.

All the rest underdogs. Mostly big underdogs.