Nine points but just one position separate South Hobart and Launceston United as they head into the second-versus-third Women’s Super League match of the week.
While South and unbeaten leaders Devonport have won every game against the rest of the competition, United lead the chasing pack knowing that an upset at D’Arcy Street on Saturday will substantially disrupt the established pecking order.
With the bottom two having only picked up points against each other, a league which is yet to see a draw is forming into three solid packs with United a win ahead of Kingborough and two in front of Glenorchy.
While a form run of ‘LLLWWW’ suggests inconsistency from the 2022 league and cup double winners, coach Al Ollington pointed out that a couple of those losses came against the league’s big two.
“I thought we were particularly competitive against Devonport when we lost to them only 3-0 and that gives us confidence going into the next two weeks where we play South and then Devonport,” he said. “We go in feeling competitive and certainly feel we can win those games and push ourselves higher up the ladder.”
With the cup final and a bye, United have had two weeks watching on while South played Strikers in the showpiece and then walloped Taroona 7-0.
“That presents some challenges to us as we head into one of the biggest games of the season which could potentially make a difference to where we end up at the end of the year,” Ollington said.
“We think we’re getting to a point where the group understand what’s being asked of them and we’re playing a good brand of football which was evidenced in our last game against Riverside (another 7-0 win).”
South won the corresponding round-four fixture 4-0 and the cup quarter-final between the teams 4-1, with Jaz White claiming a brace in both games, but assistant coach James Symmons said United outplayed them for the first hour of the league encounter.
“Their build-up play was great and we’ve got to be wary of that. It’s no mean feat playing Launceston, they’re a very good team,” he said.
Having only dropped points to Devonport this season, South remain just three points off a top spot they still covet.
“We’re out to win every game from now until the end of the season,” Symmons added. “We’ve still got premiership hopes and to keep that alive we need to continue to win and this is another step on that journey for us.”
In NPL Tasmania, fourth-placed Kingborough and third-placed Glenorchy come together separated by just one point.
If Devonport (fifth) beat Launceston City (second), the pack chasing unbeaten leaders South Hobart will bunch up substantially making three points at the new-look Lightwood Park even more valuable.
Neither coach is expecting a repeat of their round-four encounter which the Knights won 8-0.
“I do not think that was an 8-0 game - they could have been 2-0 up early but our boys were clinical so we’ll take a lot from that,” said Glenorchy coach Brian Murphy. “Kingborough have been going really well and we won’t take anything for granted.”
Jack Glover and Cammron Morris scored in the teams’ last meeting but have both since left the Knights while the upcoming transfer window will see Jacob Calvert and Moses Bosco arrive from Clarence and Hobart United respectively, young American Michael Hatcher join from University of Portland and Hugh Undy return from long-term injury.
Meanwhile, four wins from five games makes Lions coach Jon Fenech a happy man.
“We’ve been on a decent run,” he said. “What the group is trying to do is build on what we’ve been doing and continue to gel.
“It makes it a really interesting game this weekend. Everyone around the club is very excited. There’s been a lot of media coverage around our new grandstand opening. Hopefully that will bring a good crowd.”
Fresh off a 10-minute hat-trick in a 3-1 win at Riverside, Rowan Pitt will face the club where he started out and his brother Kalvin plays.
“We knew one of these days he’d have a day like he did last weekend and break out because he works his socks off,” Fenech said. “Everyone was so happy when he got his first goal a few weeks ago and to follow it up with that performance was great and there’s added spice with his family connection to the opposition this weekend.”
NPL Tasmania
Saturday, June 21
2pm South Hobart v Launceston United, D’Arcy Street
2.15pm Kingborough v Glenorchy, Lightwood Park
2.30pm Clarence v Riverside, Wentworth Park
4.30pm Devonport v Launceston City, Valley Road
Women's Super League
Saturday, June 21
11.45am South Hobart v Launceston United, D’Arcy Street
2.15pm Devonport v Taroona, Valley Road
4.30pm Kingborough v Glenorchy, Lightwood Park
BYE: Riverside Olympic