As we enter the final rounds of the 2019 season, the title race looks just about done. From here it is the Devonport Strikers title to lose, as they firmly occupy the box seat after their win over Olympia last weekend. They will host the Kingbough Lions on Saturday and can take a further step towards securing their title defence with another 3 points. The Lions were dissappointing in their last start against Launceston City, after launching something of a second half of the season surge under new boss Jez Kenth.
If they were to win out from here, the Strikers closest rivals Olympia could reach 59 points, though that would only be if their appeal against the Lucas Hill sanction was to be successful, otherwise 56 is the limit. Devonport currently sit on 47 points, so to guarantee the title Devonport need 4 wins from their final 6 games, but it's quite possible they only need 3. Looking at their upcoming games that seems exceedingly likely, especially given only the Hobart Zebras have managed to take any points off them this season. Their slate is as follows.
Kingborough (H)
Glenorchy Knights (H)
Riverside (H)
Riverside (H)
Clarence (A)
South Hobart (A)
The final day trip to South is a tough one, but outside of that they will enter every game as overwhelming favourites and it would be quite the shock if they started leaking points from their Valley Road fortress.
But that doesn't mean there isn't plenty to play for this weekend. Northern bragging rights will be on the line as Riverside Olympic host Launceston City in the final Launceston Derby of the season on Saturday at Windsor Park. The ledger is all square at one win apiece, after Riverside won the first Derby of the season at Buckby Landrover Park, claiming a 2-1 win, before City reversed that in the second edition at Windsor Park, likewise claiming a 2-1 win.
The pair have started to build a budding rivalry and there is no doubt that with silverware out of reach for both sides, claiming supremacy in Launceston will be high on the motivation list. Riverside have improved as the season has worn on and their past month has probably been their best in the competition, claiming a 0-0 draw over South Hobart, defeating Clarence and suffering narrow losses to Zebras and Knights in that time frame. City have won 2 of their past 4 NPL TAS outings in their last month of games, downing Kingborough 2-0 on the road a fortnight ago before losing to South Hobart 4-1 last weekend in their most recent fixtures.
Another rivalry will feature on Sunday, when Olympia will meet the Hobart Zebras at Warrior Park. Last time they met at the venue, David Smith described the performance as the worst of the season, so redemption will be on the cards for them this time around. They blooded a number of young players against Clarence last week and it seems like they are keeping on eye on the future as they play out the 2019 season, giving some good NPL exposure to their prospects. Olympia will need to pick themselves up off the canvas and get back to playing the type of football that has seen them winning so many games this season. Even if the title does seem out reach now, with South Hobart potentially a threat to their second place on the table, and given the animosity between those clubs, it's fair to say they still have plenty to play for.
Finally, at KGV on Saturday the Glenorchy Knights will aim to make it 2 wins in a row when they take on Clarence United. Having snapped their losing streak with a 1-0 win over Riverside last weekend, they will be aiming to push on into fifth place, with the Lions and City leaving the door ajar for them with their recent results. With a tough run of games to follow, this is 3 points they need to bank and they will be fully expecting to do so. Clarence are running out of time to find a second positive result of the season and with the competitions top 3 sides still to play, this looms as one of their better hopes of doing that.
Saturday 3 August
Glenorchy Knights v Clarence, 2:30pm, KGV
Devonport v Kingborough, 2:15pm, Valley Road
Riverside v Launceston City, 2:30pm, Windsor Park LIVE STREAM
Sunday 4 August
Olympia v Hobart, Zebras, 4:15pm, Warrior Park LIVE STREAM