Northern Rangers host the Hobart JEEP Zebras to kick off the round at the NTCA ground.
Northern Rangers v Hobart JEEP Zebras, Saturday 9 July, NTCA, 12:30PM
Last Time They Met: NPL TAS Round 8, Hobart Zebras 3-3 Northern Rangers, KGV
League Form: Northern Rangers: LLLLL Hobart JEEP Zebras: WLWWW
They are the opponent that they achieved their best result of the season to date against when they surprised many by registering a 3-3 draw at KGV back in round 8. They haven’t kicked on from that display however, it remains the last time they took a point and they have lost six consecutive games since.
The Zebras ground out another win last week over Olympia to remain with four points off leaders Devonpor but will know that dropping points against Rangers for a second time could spell doom for their title ambitions.
Kingborough Lions v Launceston City, Saturday 9 July, Lightwood Park, 2:00PM
Last Time They Met: NPL TAS Round 8, Launceston City 1-0 Kingborough, Mitsubishi Park
League Form: Kingborough: LWLWL Launceston City LLLWW
The Lions are home at the Den this week with an important game against a travelling Launceston City side undoubtedly buoyed by their derby victory last week.
With six points currently separating the two teams in fifth and sixth, a win for City on the road could open up a likely unassailable gap of 9 points between the teams with just six rounds to go. If Kingborough are to catch them, they simply must take three points in this game.
If they play as they did for the first 45 minutes last week they are every chance. It was 45 minutes that showed what they were capable of and the progress they have made under Shaw.
They took the game up to the leaders Devonport with a hardnosed approach, doing a good job to get the ball to their effective wide men, Taylor and Mcdonald, and their physical front 2 of Cowen and Cartwright were causing problems.
Devonport v Clarence Saturday 9 July, Valley Road, 2:00PM
Last Time They Met: NPL TAS Round 8, Devonport 5-0 Clarence, Valley Road
League Form: Devonport: WWWWW Clarence: LLWLL
Devonport host Clarence United at Valley Road and will be expecting to take three points once again to maintain their gap of four points at the top of the table.
The Strikers made it 10 wins in a row with their win last week, which is a Victory League/NPL TAS record and they will look to extend that even further this week with a home game against seventh placed Clarence.
Devonport have been dominant this season, especially at home where they have scored 28 goals in 7 home games this season.
A massive part of that potent attack is star striker Brayden Mann who has been in red hot form. His spectacular seven minute second half hat-trick last week made it 13 goals from his last seven league games, as he continues to lead the line and provide his side’s main source of goals.
Olympia v South Hobart, Sunday 10 July, Warrior Park, 3:00PM
Last Time They Met: NPL TAS Round 8, South Hobart 5-1 Olympia, Darcy St
League Form: Olympia: WWWLL South Hobart: WWLLW
Heading into the season few would have thought that these two sides would be out of the running for the league title by the start of round 3, yet that is perhaps the reality of the situation they both find themselves in heading into this game.
South will continue to push for the title but with an eight point gap to top spot, they will need to win out and hope for other results to go their way. For Olympia, the focus has largely turned to blooding the youth, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t love to be the side that drove the final nail into coffin of South Hobart’s 2016 campaign.
South Hobart will be without the services of Darcy Hall, Dan Brown, Alex Leszczysnki through suspension and Kobe Kemp will continue to miss through injury. They were able to overcome those notable absences last week against Clarence but against a Warriors defence that has conceded just two goals in the past month of football, it looks a tougher proposition for them to take home the three points from this one.
CLICK HERE for a full Round 15 preview.