Friday, August 9, 2019

Warriors appear to have given up the fight


NPL Tasmania leaders Devonport City should maintain their 6-point lead over second-placed Olympia Warriors by downing the visiting fifth-ranked Glenorchy Knights at 2.15pm at Valley Road on Saturday.

Devonport are well on course for a second consecutive title and they should brush aside any Knights challenge.

The North-West Coast outfit played without any overseas imports last weekend and that may again be the case unless defender Raphael Reynolds has recovered from injury and is brought back into the fray.

Knights have shown improvement in the past fortnight, but they are unlikely to upset Devonport at Valley Road.

Devonport have beaten Knights 4-0 and 5-2 in their two encounters so far this season and nothing is likely to change.

Olympia almost appear to have thrown in the towel as far as the title race goes, but they will surely finish second.

They are hot favourites against bottom-side Clarence United at home at Warrior Park at 4.30pm on Saturday.

They will miss the suspended midfield star, Jordan Scott, and injured goalkeeper Kyle McDonald.

Darby Randall will play in goal and may encounter his brother, Sam, at some stage during the game as he plays in midfield or attack for Clarence.

Olympia’s coach, Rob Clarke, will also miss the game.  He has taken a pre-arranged holiday in Thailand with the complete blessing of Olympia president, George Mamacas, who is himself overseas in Las Vegas.

Mamacas returns at the end of the month, which is about the time Olympia’s appeal against the deduction of 3 points for playing a suspended player will be heard.

Even if the appeal fails and Olympia drop to 9 points adrift of Devonport, their title hopes are all but over anyway.

Assistant coach Andy Tye will be in charge of the Warriors for the game against Clarence.

“With Jordan Scott missing through suspension, Jake Vandermey will come in to replace him,” said Tye.

“Kyle McDonald has an ankle injury that hasn't settled so he will be replaced by Darby Randall.

“It's been a tough two weeks with us losing consecutive games for the first time this year.  We will be looking to go back to basics and hopefully play with a little more freedom.

“We need to be reminded that players lose form but not talent.  If we concentrate on doing the basic things well, it will go a long way towards gaining a positive result.

“Clarence have had a tough year, but I expect will be looking to take advantage of our poor recent form.  The derbies between our two sides have always been competitive and they seem to raise their game to another level when we meet.

“We certainly won't underestimate them and will look to be on the front foot to meet whatever they can throw at us.”

Third-placed South Hobart are away to seventh-ranked Launceston City at Launceston’s Buckby Land Rover Park at 4.30pm on Saturday in what could be a danger game for the visitors.

City tend to run hot and cold but are usually up for it when they meet South Hobart.

City may again be without goalkeeper Lachlan Clark, who was concussed when the sides met on 27 July at South Hobart Oval.

South won that encounter 4-1, but this could be closer.  Noah Mies presents a real threat and South will need to watch him closely.

Mies scored City’s consolation goal in that 4-1 loss and he certainly has a nose for goal.

The remaining game of the weekend pits second-last Riverside Olympic against sixth-placed Kingborough Lions United at 2.30pm on Saturday at Windsor Park in Launceston.

Riverside can be a surprise packet on their day, but so can Kingborough.

A draw is a distinct possibility in this match, but a win for the Lions could lift them above Knights and into fifth spot, which is a reward worth striving for.

NPL Tasmania (As at 4 August 2019)

TEAM
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Devonport City
19
16
2
1
70
16
50
Olympia Warriors
20
14
2
4
61
26
44
South Hobart
18
11
3
4
58
24
36
Hobart Zebras
20
10
6
4
61
38
36
Glenorchy Knights
19
7
2
10
48
37
23
Kingborough Lions
19
7
1
11
35
41
22
Launceston City
19
6
3
10
29
36
21
Riverside Olympic
18
4
1
13
17
48
13
Clarence United
20
1
0
19
5
128
3

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Warriors are not warriors .
They give in too easily and don’t know how to win
gig games. More $$$$$$$ down have drain.
Rob Clarke has gone with George’s blessing you say Walter.
That would be a first.
George has never shown any empathy , respect to anyone .
That may sound harsh but fact is fact.
What dies Olympia do next year? Become another Zebras
and spend more money ?
Zebras prove that doesn’t work and they are in deep sh..t.