South Hobart, Glenorchy Knights and Devonport City all need to win this weekend as NPL title race hots up

Photo:  Ken Morton is to step down as the South Hobart supremo after 16 highly successful years at the helm. [PlessPix]

Second-placed Glenorchy Knights must beat fourth-ranked Kingborough Lions United at KGV Park tonight if they are to keep alive their NPL Tasmania title hopes.

A win for the Knights tonight would propel them to the top of the standings and place enormous pressure on current leaders South Hobart, who face the reigning champions, Devonport City, at home at South Hobart Oval tomorrow.

The Lions have little but pride to play for and will be dangerous.

They are inconsistent and unpredictable so the Knights will have to be at their best tonight.

South Hobart coach, Ken Morton, 77, who has announced he is stepping down from the helm at the end of the season after 16 years in charge and eight league titles, will have prepared his side for tomorrow as he would love to go out with the title, last secured in 2017.

Devonport will be up for the challenge as a win is essential if they are to have any hope of retaining the title.

Photo:  Tom Ballantyne has already won one title this season and is looking for a second at NPL level. [PlessPix] 

Devonport coach, Tom Ballantyne, coached the club’s Women’s Super League side to the 2024 title last weekend and will be keen to make it a double.

Riverside Olympic, in sixth place, hosts bottom-side Launceston United at Windsor Park tonight and will need to be on their toes.

Confidence must be high in the Launceston United ranks after they notched their first win of the season last weekend in a 3-1 win over second-last Clarence Zebras.

Clarence Zebras will still be smarting after last weekend’s humiliating loss and they will need to bounce back against the visiting Launceston (Juventus) City at Wentworth Park tomorrow.

City did well to beat Kingborough Lions United away at Lightwood park last weekend and, if they keep winning and other results go their way in the three games remaining, they could gain fourth placed.

Photo:  Devonport coach Tom Ballantyne (left) and South Hobart coach Ken Morton are both in the running for this season's NPL title-winning coach. [PlessPix]

NPL Tasmania Standings (As at 17 August 2024)

TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
South Hobart	18	12	5	1	56	25	41
Glenorchy Knights	18	12	4	2	74	21	40
Devonport City	18	11	5	2	45	17	38
Kingborough Lions	18	10	3	5	57	34	33
Launceston City	18	8	3	7	32	29	27
Riverside Olympic	18	4	1	13	24	61	13
Clarence Zebras	18	3	1	14	25	54	10
Launceston United	18	1	0	17	15	93	3

Photo:  Glenorchy Knights coach James Sherman is one of three NPL coaches whose sides could still win the title. [PlessPix]