Thursday, July 4, 2019

Devonport's bye may see nearest rivals draw closer this weekend


With NPL Tasmania leaders Devonport City having the bye this weekend, second-placed Olympia Warriors can put the heat on the North-West Coast side by beating fifth-placed Kingborough Lions United.

The Lions host the Warriors at 6pm at Lightwood Park on Saturday and if Olympia win they will be just 2 points adrift of Devonport.

Devonport will, however, have a game in hand.

Kingborough Lions are experiencing a revival since Jez Kenth took over as coach a month ago and they will cause Olympia problems.

Kenth and assistants Gary Upton and Cameron Ellis have brought about a new self-belief amongst the Kingborough players and Olympia will need to be at their best to win.

Olympia have beaten Kingborough 4-1 at Lightwood Park earlier this season, so the omens are good, but Kingborough have improved since then.

Sixth-placed Glenorchy Knights take on fourth-ranked Hobart Zebras at 8.15pm on Friday at KGV Park.

Neither side has inspired confidence in recent weeks and this promises to be a close game.

The sides drew 2-2 when they first met this season and a draw is again on the cards.

Both sides should be closer to full strength than they were last weekend when they had players absent.

South Hobart, who are third, should move to within 8 points of Devonport by overcoming second-last Riverside Olympic away at Windsor Park at 2.30pm on Saturday.

South Hobart should bounce back from their defeat against Devonport.

Riverside narrowly lost to Zebras and they did show some promise, especially with striker Chris Wademan in scoring form, but South Hobart should be too strong.

Seventh-placed Launceston City may leapfrog Glenorchy Knights should Knights lose as City are certain to beat the visiting Clarence United at Buckby Land Rover Park at 4.30pm on Saturday.

Clarence have hit rock bottom and will find the going extremely tough away to City.

NPL Tasmania (As at 30 June 2019)

TEAM
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Devonport City
15
13
1
1
58
12
40
Olympia Warriors
15
11
2
2
50
14
35
South Hobart
14
9
2
3
51
20
29
Hobart Zebras
15
7
5
3
49
31
26
Kingborough Lions
15
6
1
8
27
33
19
Glenorchy Knights
15
5
2
8
37
33
17
Launceston City
14
4
3
7
22
26
15
Riverside Olympic
14
2
0
12
13
46
6
Clarence United
15
1
0
14
4
105
3

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don’t know about new found confidence Walter.
All Boro needed was a coach who could organise things ,
do things simply and organise players into correct positions.
Too often in the past they worried too much about the opposition
and were too defensive. They had no idea how to go forward because
of the negative approach to every game. They may not have lost by many
goals but didn’t win many games either.
Still two or three players short of being a real threat to the top four.
Olympia will be a test but then again Olympia can beat themselves
also.

Anonymous said...

Do Devonport have to complete the Bye at KGV?

Anonymous said...


Reply to: July 5, 2019 at 9:03 AM

Walter didn't mention a new-found confidence?

Walter said they have had a revival, which is basically what you have just described.

Anonymous said...

Anon 9.03 thanks for the update Jez!!

Anonymous said...

Anon 9.03am

You need to lighten up mate. It's the Tasmanian NPL.

Anonymous said...

1.41 pm. Yes you are correct. It is Tasmania and if Boro or any
club wishes to be successful , they have to lift their game you knob.
You must be from one of these clubs where mediocrity has been acceptable
and still is.