A potentially decisive weekend of NPL TAS action looms ahead, with the competition's top four sides to play each other. Hobart Zebras will take on Devonport on Saturday, whilst on Sunday it will be South Hobart against Olympia at Darcy Street. This could be a Round we look back on at the end of the year as one that proved particularly important in sorting out the contenders.
Here is how it stands heading into the weekend.
1-Devonport 24 (+26)
2-Olympia 22 (+22)
3-South Hobart 19 (+25)
4- Zebras 16 (+21)
If the Strikers were to beat the Zebras on Saturday the gap between the pair will be at 11 points. That's quite possibly an insurmountable break, even with another 14 rounds of games to come. So the visitors will be desperate for a result out of the game. The Strikers will hardly lack for motivation themselves as there is no way Devonport want to head into a Lakoseljac Cup Quarter final next week against an opposition who has beaten them twice in quick succession.
Their game down in Hobart on Easter Monday saw the Zebras jump the Strikers, employing a furious press and taking the game to them early. After racing to that 2-0 lead off the back of it the game changed and as it wore on Devonport proceeded to control the majority of the game. Both teams will make adjustments but expect the Zebras to try mimic the style that brought their early success. Whether they can sustain it for long periods is unknown, and the loss of the suspended Nicky Edwards will definitely be a blow to their hopes.
On Sunday attention turns to the South Hobart v Olympia showdown. Last time they played was back in Round 1, as Olympia started their season with a commanding performance, with a first half Jono Ladic stunner leading them to a 2-1 win. Olympia could’ve had the contest settled by half time, before being forced to hold off a late South charge. That game ended a streak of 12 matches without a win against South and was the first win over them since 2015.
With the monkey now off their backs, the Warriors will go about trying to open up a six point gap to South with a win, and potentially even move top, pending Saturday's results. South Hobart meanwhile will be looking to jump above the Warriors into second place as they continue to gather momentum. Both sides are getting better as the season has worn on and enter the game with strong runs of form. The Warriors have won their last six fixtures in a row whilst South have won six of their last seven. Both have shown themselves to be the major threat to Devonport and capable of winning the league this year. Sunday looms as a decisive day in shaping the 2019 title race.
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The Warriors finally got the better of South back in Round 1- Solstice Photography[/caption]
In other games this round Clarence can move from the foot of the table if they can repeat their win over Riverside when they clash again at Wentworth Park. It would be pretty remarkable for a side with a -61 GD after 9 games to not be bottom, but that scenario could well be on the cards. Demar and Ebini have really solidified the defensive unit and whilst they aren't suddenly going to start charging up the table, they are now a lot more difficult opponent than they were a month ago. Riverside were bitterly disappointed to lose that last one and know this is a prime chance for their second win of the season. They've had plenty of time to stew on that result with the bye last week, lets see if it sparks an improved performance.
Later on the Saturday, Launceston City will welcome Kingborough to Buckby Landrover Park. The two played out a 0-0 draw on Easter Monday in one of the great goalkeeping duels in NPL TAS. Lachlan Clark and Kenneth Perkinson were absolutely outstanding for their respective sides, but its fair to say that neither team has been particularly potent in front of goal this year which also contributed. The Lions have been boosted by the signing of Brayton Allan from Olympia, who has been a prolific goalscorer at Challenge League level and they will hope he can be a source of goals. City also badly need more options in attack, Noah Mies has been outstanding, but has been involved in 100% of City's goals this season. It's been Mies or bust for them this year, and whilst that may be enough for them to get a win at home over the Lions, its not sustainable in the long term
The Warriors finally got the better of South back in Round 1- Solstice Photography[/caption]
In other games this round Clarence can move from the foot of the table if they can repeat their win over Riverside when they clash again at Wentworth Park. It would be pretty remarkable for a side with a -61 GD after 9 games to not be bottom, but that scenario could well be on the cards. Demar and Ebini have really solidified the defensive unit and whilst they aren't suddenly going to start charging up the table, they are now a lot more difficult opponent than they were a month ago. Riverside were bitterly disappointed to lose that last one and know this is a prime chance for their second win of the season. They've had plenty of time to stew on that result with the bye last week, lets see if it sparks an improved performance.
Later on the Saturday, Launceston City will welcome Kingborough to Buckby Landrover Park. The two played out a 0-0 draw on Easter Monday in one of the great goalkeeping duels in NPL TAS. Lachlan Clark and Kenneth Perkinson were absolutely outstanding for their respective sides, but its fair to say that neither team has been particularly potent in front of goal this year which also contributed. The Lions have been boosted by the signing of Brayton Allan from Olympia, who has been a prolific goalscorer at Challenge League level and they will hope he can be a source of goals. City also badly need more options in attack, Noah Mies has been outstanding, but has been involved in 100% of City's goals this season. It's been Mies or bust for them this year, and whilst that may be enough for them to get a win at home over the Lions, its not sustainable in the long term