With 4 matches left the top three ladder positions are still open with City Marians, Queechy Penguins and Launceston City still jostling for position. Launceston City , with the bye next week is most likely going to stay in 3rd, but the top spot is likely to hinge on the City Marians/Queechy Penguins game in 2 weeks. Likewise 4th - 6th spot are not set.
The outcome of the weekend matches saw City Marians and Smithton with percentage boosting wins, while Devonport/Launceston City and South Burnie/ South Launceston played draws.
City Marians played their short passing game on Saturday, while West Devonport relied on long hits and quick transfers for their attacking moves. West Devonport caught City Marians on the back foot, scoring their first through Michael Jacobs before City had settled, and then scored late in the game, again through Michael Jacobs after a quick breakaway. For the majority of the game West struggled to move the ball out of defence, City showed persistent and constant pressure around the circle, methodically scoring 4 goals in the first and 2 in the second half. David Kenworthy converted 2 off well worked penalty corners. City’s score would have been much higher if not for some wild shots around goal.
South Burnie would be disappointed in their draw with South Launceston. Needing a win to move up the ladder, South scored through Tom Trevarthen midway through the first half, only to see South Launceston to score early in the second half. Rhys Clark was back to his best through the centre, but South’s defence stood firm, with Nigel Housego, Chris Banfield, and Rod Neville holding South Burnie out.
Smithton, on top of their form in the second half of the season, maximised their home turf advantage with a 5 nil first half, following up with a 4 – 1 second half. The Saints were too speedy for Tamar, and with Joe Coombs and Jarrad Poke dominating, had 7 different goal scores, showing the depth of their attack. Tamar did not concede, playing hard all game, and showed that they would be a force in future years The young side showed a glimse of this when after a great passage of play Sam Rossetto finished off a good team goal.
Launceston City scored early to go to the break with the upper hand on the slow Devonport pitch. Restricted by injuries to players in the second half, Launceston City could not add to their score, while Ben Loone and Jamie Luck combined well for the home side to tie up the game.
Launceston City 1 dw Devonport 1; Goals LC: A Carnicelli Dev: B Loone; Best LC: D Fish, J Scott, A Mc Bain Dev: D Henry, J Luck, B Loone
South Launceston 1 dw South Burnie 1; Goals SL: T Reese SB: T Trevarthen; Best SL: N Housego, C Banfiled, R Neville SB: R Clark, S Stevens, T Trevarthen
Smithton 9 d Tamar Churinga 1; Goals S’ton: M Futcher 2, J House 2, A Lockett 2, J Poke, N Johns, D Thorpe TC: S Rossetto; Best S’ton: J Coombs, J Poke, N Johns TC: R John, D James, S Rossetto
City Marians 6 d West Devonport 2; Goals CM: D Kenworthy 2, M Bissett, S cock, A Lamprey WD: M Jacobs 2; Best CM: M Bissett, S Cock, C McCarthy WD: M Jacobs, D Saunders, D Tippett
[4/09/2010]
