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Glenorchy Knights, currently in second place on the NPL Tasmania standings with two rounds to go, may face a weakened Clarence Zebras at KGV Park at 8.15 tonight.
Although Clarence Zebras have not commented officially, reliable sources within the club and outside have informed me there was a serious altercation between two players at training during the week and the two may have been expelled.
We will have to see the Clarence Zebras line-up tonight to ascertain the veracity of the rumours sweeping the local football scene.
Clarence Zebras are currently fifth and cannot climb higher, but they can drop a place and be overtaken by sister Italian-backed club Launceston City.
Knights coach, James Sherman, was reticent about the situation at their opponents’ camp.
When asked if the sort of upheaval that is rumoured could help his side, he replied: “It may,” he said. “It may not.
“I don’t know too much about it and it’s not something I can control.
“We’ll just focus on ourselves.”
Knights lost 2-0 away to Kingborough last Friday night in Sherman’s absence. He was attending a high-level coaching course in Melbourne.
He agreed his absence may have played a role in the Knights defeat, but he was uncertain as to how much a role it would have played.
“We had a handful of key players unavailable, and myself not being there as well, lots of things can culminate in, more so the performance rather than the outcome, I think,” Sherman said.
“We want to get a trophy and we want to play well and finish as high as we possibly can.”
Sherman said Clarence Zebras had been like Knights in that they have had key players unavailable for parts of the season.
“We’ve gone a third or half a season without key players, and they have, too,” Sherman said.
“It’s a difficult job keeping a side performing each week and I’m sure they’re doing their best, but I think they’re struggling a bit.”
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Sherman said he was looking to finish second so that Knights could have a home semi-final in the finals series.
Sherman confirmed that striker Kyle Vincent had left the club because he felt he was not getting enough game time.
He said he didn’t consider it a major loss and felt Vincent’s expectations were too high after coming back from serious back surgery.
It takes a lot of rehabilitation after major surgery to come back to peak performance, Sherman felt, and he considered the player needed more time to reach top fitness.
“I thought his expectation of where he was going to be at [after pre-season rehabilitation] were probably too high because you just don’t know how you’re going to respond to something that serious,” Sherman said.
“He’d done ever so well to get himself back into a position where he was able to be on the pitch again, but it’s a case of being patient and making sure you're really settled back into your rehab, and he had started to all those things.
“It’s a process to come back from a major operation and I don’t think he really settled into what that might look like for the first 12 months and frustration got the better of him and he decided to pull the pin.”
Champions Devonport Strikers travel to Kingston tomorrow to take on fourth-ranked Kingborough Lions United at Clennett’s Lightwood Park at 2.30pm.
There is nothing at stake in terms of ladder standings, but the Lions will be keen to get a seventh win on the trot, while Devonport will be keen to show why they are the league champions.
They lost the 2021 title to Glenorchy Knights by losing to Kingborough at Lightwood Park on the final day of the season, so although the consequences of a loss tomorrow would not be nearly as severe, it may serve as a warning to them that the home side could be dangerous.
Second-last Riverside Olympic, who beat Launceston City 1-0 in mid-week, host South Hobart at Windsor Park at 2.30pm tomorrow.
The visitors are striving for second place and will know what is required tonight after the Knights’ game against Clarence Zebras.
If Knights lose, South will know that a win against Riverside will put them second with a game to play.
Bottom-side Launceston United host Launceston City at Birch Avenue at 6pm tomorrow,
City are in a slump, while United, the wooden-spooners, earned their first point of the season last weekend when they drew 1-1 with Riverside with a goal deep into stoppage time.
That will have shown them there is a chance of winning and City will have to take things seriously if they are to avoid embarrassment.
NPL Tasmania (As at 30August 2023)
|
TEAM |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Pts |
|
Devonport Strikers |
19 |
17 |
1 |
1 |
63 |
13 |
52 |
|
Glenorchy Knights |
19 |
12 |
1 |
6 |
44 |
18 |
37 |
|
South Hobart |
19 |
11 |
3 |
5 |
53 |
28 |
36 |
|
Kingborough Lions |
19 |
11 |
0 |
8 |
58 |
33 |
33 |
|
Clarence Zebras |
19 |
8 |
2 |
9 |
47 |
47 |
26 |
|
Launceston City |
19 |
8 |
1 |
10 |
23 |
30 |
25 |
|
Riverside Olympic |
19 |
4 |
1 |
14 |
18 |
68 |
13 |
|
Launceston United |
19 |
0 |
1 |
18 |
12 |
81 |
0 |
*****
In the Women’s Super League tonight, Kingborough Lions United host Clarence Zebras at Lightwood Park at 8.15pm.
Kingborough coach Simon Edwards said he was looking forward to the last couple of games as his side could move up a place and want to finish the season on a high.
Kingborough are a disappointing second-last at the moment.
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“We’ve had quite a few ins and outs and unexpected injuries, but the girls have rallied around,” Edwards said.
“It has been a bit inconsistent in terms of our starting eleven each week as a result and we’ll just look to unify.
“The girls have delivered some good halves of football but we haven’t put a whole game together in the last three or four outings so tonight we’ll be having to.
“In terms of our attacking game, I think we
can take it up to Clarence Zebras and our defence is starting to show some good
signs as well.”
4 comments:
Who would have thought ? The 2 highest paid imports in the club in a wild training fight .Was a great example for the young 21's to watch as they at least give the club some dignity this year
I look forward to Sunday mornings & reading your blog for the weekend games Walter. Not normaly one to comment. In this case I felt the need. In regards to James Sherman & Kyle Vincent. I had the pleasure of watching this young man play during my time at Olympia Warriors and was in ore of his goal kicking skills & spice he brought to the pitch. His determination & dedication to football are a testament to him. Sherman states he felt the lad hadn’t reached top fitness. I would dispute this. Vincent displayed his speed & fitness in round 6 vs CZ. The match winner, goal of round & a standout contender for goal of the year. And yet as the weeks went on very little game time. Then to make a comment. ‘ He didn’t consider it a major loss’. What a blow to the young man’s ego. Shame on you Knights coach! And I will add, Best of luck for your football playing in the future Vinnie. Continue doing what you do best & let’s hope your next coach shows more respect. J.
As soon as you said goal kicking skills it's easy to see you don't know much about the game
Anon 1.25PM.
I think you may be spot on.
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