The blockbusters keep coming in the Lakoseljac Cup with two of the competition’s most successful sides set for a thrilling quarter-final.
South Hobart and Devonport have won 11 of the last 17 cups between them and will be targeting another chance to represent Tasmania in the Australia Cup when they clash at D’Arcy Street on Saturday.
The ties don’t get any easier for Strikers who needed extra-time to eliminate holders Glenorchy 4-3 in the previous round.
“We don’t get an easy draw at Devonport!” said coach Tom Ballantyne, whose side won the Cup three years running until last season.
“But if you’re going to win the Cup you have to beat Kingborough, Glenorchy and South somewhere along the way.”
South are the only unbeaten team in NPL Tasmania this season and represent a formidable proposition, according to Ballantyne.
“I think we’ve got a very big challenge on our hands," he said.
"We’ve got to step up and try and match them.”
Among South’s recruits this season was reigning league best and fairest and golden boot winner Kobe Kemp who said Max Clarke’s team have their own reasons for wanting to regain a trophy they last won in 2019.
“It’s a massive Cup for everyone,” he said. “Everyone in the league knows how big it is.
“We’ve got Bradley Lakoseljac in our club and it’s obviously a special competition for him. There’s a drive to win a trophy and you get the FA Cup draw as well. It makes it that little bit more special.”
Kemp admitted he is still motivated by nearly scoring a winner for Kingborough in last year’s final, only to see his 82nd-minute goal wiped out late on by Glenorchy who won in extra-time.
“We only had to hold out for about eight minutes and they scored with a couple of minutes to go and ran over the top of us in extra-time," he said.
“Definitely the feeling of scoring was special at the time but obviously it was dampened in the end. But definitely there’s a motivation to have that feeling and project your team into a winning position.”
In the other quarter-finals, fifth-placed Kingborough host third-placed Launceston City while Riverside Olympic and Clarence meet Southern Championship pace-setters New Town White Eagles and South East United respectively.
The big clash in the Women's Statewide Cup sees Launceston United host South Hobart just a week after losing to them in the league.
Both clubs felt the 4-0 scoreline did not reflect what had been a close contest.
“It was a really even match for 60 minutes and after half-time Launnie took it to us. We’ve got to work on how we can counter that second time round this weekend,” said South Hobart assistant coach James Symmons.
“It was obviously a benefit for both teams that we got a chance to look at each other in the league.”
United coach Al Ollington responded: “Despite a 4-0 loss we actually came out of the game quite positively. We’ve reviewed the game and have been looking at what we need to improve heading into this week.
“We genuinely think that the game can still go either way and that we’re very much in with a chance.”
Pivotal to the outcome will be 2023 golden boot winner Jaz White who has already bagged 12 goals in five games this season and will welcome a shorter trip from her base on the North-West Coast.
“Jaz is sensational,” Symmons said. “She’s scoring for fun at the moment which is fantastic.”
Asked how far White can go, he added: “That’s up to her I think. Ability-wise no question, but up to her from a personal point of view.”
United have also been finding the net with regularity, scoring 17 goals in their first three games.
North American imports Montana Leonard and Angelique Ikeda have been key to that and are loving their new surroundings.
“It’s just a really good bond we all have,” said Ikeda, a midfielder from Missouri who netted a hat-trick in the previous round’s 6-1 win over Kingborough.
“I think having that chemistry off the field really shows on the field with our goal-scoring.
“The club has been phenomenal. I was here in 2023 and had an amazing experience and when I got the offer to come back I couldn’t decline. I love Launnie United and the atmosphere they create.”
The other ties were all set to feature championship teams although New Town White Eagles have forfeited their tie against holders Devonport.
Elsewhere, University of Tasmania host Riverside Olympic while Launceston City welcome Glenorchy to Prospect Park.
Women's Statewide Cup quarter-finals
Saturday, April 19
12pm Launceston United v South Hobart, Birch Avenue
2.30pm University of Tasmania v Riverside Olympic, Olinda Grove
2.30pm Launceston City v Glenorchy, Prospect Park
Lakoseljac Cup quarter-finals
Saturday, April 19
2pm South Hobart v Devonport, D’Arcy Street
2.30pm Riverside Olympic v New Town White Eagles, Windsor Park
4.30pm Kingborough v Launceston City, Lightwood Park
Sunday, April 20
2pm South East United v Clarence, South East Complex