Saturday, October 17, 2020

Devonport should clinch the NPL Tasmania title today

Devonport City can wrap up the 2020 NPL Tasmania title today when they host bottom-side Launceston City at Valley Road at 2.15pm.

A draw will be sufficient for Devonport to retain their league crown.

Launceston City did beat Devonport in the opening round of the Lakoseljac Cup this season, but they are unlikely to repeat the feat away at Valley Road, where the home supporters will be in full voice.

Devonport beat Launceston City 2-1 in their previous league clash in Launceston, so the omens are not good for the visitors today.

Second-placed Glenorchy Knights can only hope for an upset on the North-West Coast as they seek a win away to third-ranked Olympia Warriors at Warrior Park today at 4.30pm.

The Knights should be close to full strength, although there are still injury doubts surrounding Tom Young and Alex Bellini.

If these two are included, it will give Knights more options.

Cade Smith has been a very good pick-up for Knights and has produced some impressive displays and contributed two goals and numerous assists.  He could prove a handful for Olympia.

Olympia may have Ben Hamlett and Lachlan O’Connor back after long spells out through injury.

Both teams are in contention for the Lakoseljac Cup Final and will be keen to hone their tactics for that competition given that the league title seems out of reach.

Pride is the only thing on offer in the other two games today.

Fourth-placed South Hobart entertain sixth-ranked Clarence Zebras at South Hobart Oval at 2pm, while fifth-placed Kingborough Lions United travel to Launceston to meet second-last Riverside Olympic at Windsor Park at 2.15pm.

The game at South Hobart pits coaches Ken Morton and David Smith against each other.  It’s almost a case of master versus apprentice as Morton was a successful coach when he first came to Tasmania in the late 1970s and Smith was one of his star players at Rapid.

Clarence Zebras have had a poor season, while South Hobart have been inconsistent, but the home side should be strong enough to win this game.

South Hobart won 1-0 away in the previous meeting between the sides.

Riverside and Kingborough drew 3-3 when they first met this season and another draw may well be on the cards this time.

NPL Tasmania Standings (As at 10 October 2020)

TEAM

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

Devonport City

12

11

1

0

23

8

34

Glenorchy Knights

12

9

1

2

33

9

28

Olympia Warriors

12

6

1

5

30

21

19

South Hobart

12

6

1

5

24

23

19

Kingborough Lions

12

5

3

4

23

29

18

Clarence Zebras

12

3

2

7

18

27

11

Riverside Olympic

12

1

2

9

13

32

5

Launceston City

12

1

1

10

13

29

4

 

 

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Well done Port. Best team in the state. This is even sweeter as Knights fell 2nd.