Tasmania’s two senior Statewide leagues are heading for contrasting climaxes at the business end of their seasons.
Devonport is on the brink of cementing their status as the State’s benchmark female team as they close in on an unprecedented second straight unbeaten Women’s Super League and Statewide Cup double.
Victory at home against Launceston United on Saturday would put Tom Ballantyne’s invincibles eight points clear, with second-placed South Hobart facing just two more fixtures.
The coach said his players watched South Hobart’s catch-up game against Kingborough midweek, when a Hannah Walsh hat-trick wiped out goals from Laura Davis, Jaz White and Madi Chambers to earn the Lions a 3-3 draw.
“They were messaging in the group chat straight after,” Ballantyne said. “They know what they need to do this weekend, so it’s up to them to perform. Mathematically, we win the League if we win on Saturday.”
Ballantyne is justifiably proud of his team’s WSL record, having won 31 and drawn two of their last 33 fixtures, scoring 147 goals while conceding just 21.
“It definitely builds a winning mentality,” he said. “If you get a taste for it, you want to keep winning. To be able to do it this time in front of our own crowd would be really good because last time we won it, we were away.”
United coach Al Ollington faces the unenviable task of halting the yellow juggernaut in the first-versus-fourth match-up and coming off a 3-0 home loss to South.
“They’ve obviously been very successful. They’ve had two draws in two seasons, apart from that they’ve won everything,” he said.
“It’s been interesting all season having South and then Devonport back-to-back. In some ways that’s an advantage because you come off one tough game that you’ve lifted for and you step right into the next one.
“Devonport at Valley Road is always a difficult challenge, but we’ve been working on some things to build on what we did against South Hobart and hopefully we can be really competitive.”
United sit two points behind third-placed Kingborough with a game in hand, but have not scored in six weeks during which they have had two losses, a bye and a postponement.
Meanwhile, in NPL Tasmania, in-form Launceston City are closing in on leaders South Hobart.
City are five points adrift but could close that to two if they win at Kingborough on Saturday and Launceston United three days later. If South slip up at Clarence, City could even claim top spot.
City coach Daniel Syson said his side is ready for the third-versus-second match of the round.
“We’ve just got to keep winning and taking care of our side of things. That’s all we can do really,” he said.
“We’ve played two fairly tough fixtures in the last two weeks and this is another, so it should be another exciting game.”
There are six points between the teams, with Devonport just a victory further back having won their game in hand at Riverside on Wednesday. A Colin Innes hat-trick sandwiched between goals from Mitchell Burley and Kieran Mulraney earned Strikers a 5-1 win over an Olympic side which replied through James Pelletier.
Syson heaped praise on what Lions coach Jon Fenech has achieved at Lightwood Park.
“What Jon’s done has been really impressive. They lost three of their strongest players in Kobe Kemp, Alfred Hess and Eli (Wright) and the fact that they are third in the table after losing three such strong players is testament to what he’s done there and we know this is going to be a real test.”
Since losing back-to-back games against South Hobart and Devonport, City have won six on the trot in which Angus Taylor has scored 13 goals and Thierry Swaby 11.
With a combined contribution of 47 across the season, the dynamic duo have both scored twice in four of the last five games and Syson admitted he was delighted how they have combined.
“Their goal-scoring record has been phenomenal so hopefully that can continue," he said.
“From Thierry it’s no surprise because we saw him last year and as soon as I saw Angus in pre-season I knew he was going to be a top, top player.”
Fenech returned the compliment as his side head into what he called season-defining fixtures.
“We’re still a long way away from challenging for a title yet and what Daniel has done at his club in the last two or three years is what we’re looking to emulate and build on,” he said.
“I would suggest pound-for-pound they are probably playing the best style of football in the league. They’ve definitely got the most potent strikeforce, they’ve got some really good quality and they’re well coached.”
Fenech also paid tribute to his own goal machine as Noah Mies faces his junior club with 19 goals in all competitions this season.
“What a great guy. He comes from a football family, played for both teams for a long time now, has been loyal to Kingborough for a number of years and scored over a hundred goals in NPL," he said.
"He’s always at training, he’s a good member of the squad and he’s stepped up as a leader as well this season which has been really good to see.
“He’s scored a couple against (City) already this season and was there watching them last week. He was the first to text me about how we were going to go against them and I just said ‘Don’t worry, we’ve got Noah Mies and as long as he can put on a good performance, we’ve got a chance’. He’s a game-changer and I hope he can pull it out one more time this season.”
McDonald's NPL Tasmania
Saturday, August 23
2.30pm Clarence v South Hobart, Wentworth Park
2.30pm Kingborough v Launceston City, Lightwood Park
2.30pm Devonport v Launceston United, Valley Road
4.30pm Glenorchy v Riverside, KGV
McDonald's Women’s Super League
Saturday, August 23
12.15pm Devonport v Launceston United, Valley Road
2.15pm Glenorchy v Riverside Olympic, KGV
Sunday, August 24
12.30pm Kingborough v Taroona Football Club, Lightwood Park
BYE: South Hobart