Third faces fourth in northern double header

Northern Rangers’ home ground, NTCA, will play host to a huge Victory League double-header this Saturday in Tasmania.

Northern Rangers vs Tilford Zebras
1:00PM /Saturday 21 June (NTCA)
 
Northern Rangers’ home ground, NTCA, will play host to a huge Victory League Double-Header this Saturday.
 
The first match sees third tackle fourth as Northern Rangers host an in-form Tilford Zebras outfit. Rangers enter the clash after missing a chance to take top spot when they were thrashed 6-1 by a ten-man South Hobart last week.
 
Tilford will come into the match unchanged, last week’s win over Olympia putting them just a point behind Rangers on the table, thus this week’s meeting could prove crucial to their overall position.
 
Launceston City vs Olympia FC Warriors
3:00PM/Saturday 21 June (NTCA)
 
In the second match of the NTCA double-header from 3:00pm, second placed Olympia take on cellar dwellers Launceston City.
 
Launceston City led Devonport at the break last week but were overrun in the second half, falling 5-2 to the Strikers. After a bright start to the season, City have fallen to the floor of the Victory League table and will chase an upset result to turn their season around.
 
In their last meeting, the northerners pushed Warriors and were unlucky to go down, with a second half Emmanuel Tsakiris hat trick steering Olympia over the line. City will be without one of their season’s best performers in Toby Omenihu but regain Dan and Shane Egan to strengthen depth in the squad.
 
Olympia are expected to win but were tested well in their last meeting with City. Olympia will be without key players in Ben Phillips and Lachlan Nichols for the outing but will give youth opportunity as they push hard for a bounce back from last week’s poor second half display against Tilford Zebras.
 
Glenorchy Knights vs Devonport City
2:00PM/Saturday 21 June (KGV Football Park)
 
Glenorchy Knights host a weakened Devonport City off the back of a 3-2 win over Kingborough at Lightwood Park.
 
The Knights shot ahead to a 3-0 lead and held on strong to down the Lions at their home ground.
 
Devonport stormed home last week after trailing City at half time. This week the Strikers will look to continue winning ways on the road.
 
The Strikers will be without key cogs in creative midfielder Joel Stone sturdy defender Cory Vickers due to a yellow card accumulation suspension. They will also be without their Coach in the dugout after Owen was given his marching orders last weekend at Valley Road.
 
South Hobart vs Kingborough Lions
2:00PM/Sunday 22 June (Darcy Street)
 
Top of the table South Hobart host Kingborough at Darcy Street on Sunday after an emphatic 6-1 belting of rivals Northern Rangers last week.
 
This week’s match will see the two clubs play off for the annual Hayley Coad memorial trophy.
 
At the half way point of the season, South Hobart are in the box seat to go back-to-back, sitting five points clear of closest rivals Olympia and Northern Rangers.
 
Kingborough were gutted to go down to the Knights on their home deck last week. Lions Coach Stephen Pitchford is hoping the absence of Pierce will ruffle the feathers of a settled South Hobart defensive unit.
 
Kingborough pushed South Hobart in Round 4 but were left empty handed, Pitchford is hoping his side can apply the high intensity that had them in the game last time for longer periods.
 
Click here for a full preview of all the weekend's games including comments from the coaches.