After Round 1 of the 2022 NPL Tasmania season, I predicted that only Devonport Strikers, Glenorchy Knights and South Hobart could win this season’s title.
I’m brave enough now to whittle that down to one team: Devonport Strikers.
The Strikers are 7 points clear of second-placed South Hobart and 8 points ahead of third-ranked Glenorchy Knights and fourth-placed Kingborough Lions United with virtually half the season gone.
Knights, South Hobart and the Lions probably hold faint hopes of being able to catch the Strikers, but I don’t think so, especially after the Strikers’ 10-1 thrashing of second-last Olympia Warriors on Saturday.
That was a comprehensive win and a sign that the North-West Coast outfit are serious and won’t ease up even against the lower sides.
Roberto Fernandez Garrido led the charge with another hat-trick in the first half, while Ali Dulleh and Joel Stone both scored braces.
Henry Andrews had started the ball rolling with a goal after just 4 minutes, while Brody Denehey and Baxter Tu completed the rout with the last two goals in the 61st and 77thminutes, respectively.
Adan Pickup netted Olympia’s consolation goal in the 40th minute, but the horse had bolted and the visitors trailed 6-1 at the interval.
South Hobart leapfrogged Glenorchy Knights into second place with a 3-0 win over the Knights at South Hobart Oval.
Sam Berezansky put South Hobart in front 5 minutes before the break through a fortunate deflection from close range after a low cross from the right.
Nick Morton made it 2-0 in the 62ndminute when he feigned a shot and tricked keeper Reef Murfett to commit himself before then rolling the ball into an empty net.
Berezansky added his second and South Hobart’s third in the 73rd minute.
Knights were without Tyler Harrison, while they lost Cade Smith after half an hour when he was injured after somersaulting over the keeper following a block by Jake Hayers.
Smith needed attention on the pitch before being stretchered off with his neck in a brace.
Knights had few ideas in attack and their long clearances seemed to be directed straight to the South Hobart defenders.
They are clinging to third place only on goal-difference as they are level on points with fourth-ranked Kingborough Lions United, who downed sixth-placed Clarence Zebras 4-0 away at Wentworth Park.
Adam McKeown hit the first in the 19thminute and made it 2-0 on the hour before two late strikes by Noah Mies completed the win against a disappointing home side.
On Friday night, fifth-placed Launceston City beat bottom-side Riverside Olympic 5-2 away at Windsor Park in the Launceston derby to stay with reach of the Lions, Knights and South Hobart.
Stefan Tantari and Jaden Fidra both scored braces, while Albert Amankwaa scored City’s opener.
Riverside managed to get to 2-2 early in the second half before falling by the wayside.
NPL Tasmania
South Hobart 3-0 Glenorchy Knights
Clarence Zebras 0-4 Kingborough Lions United
Devonport Strikers 10-1 Olympia Warriors
Riverside Olympic 2-5 Launceston City [Friday]
NPL Tasmania Standings (As at 18 June 2022)
| TEAM | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
| Devonport Strikers | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 38 | 4 | 27 |
| South Hobart | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 34 | 6 | 20 |
| Glenorchy Knights | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 24 | 9 | 19 |
| Kingborough Lions | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 30 | 19 | 19 |
| Launceston City | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 20 | 20 | 16 |
| Clarence Zebras | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 23 | 8 |
| Olympia Warriors | 10 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 44 | 3 |
| Riverside Olympic | 10 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 44 | 1 |
Photo: South Hobart's Nick Morton shoots as Knights' Jordan Muller attempts to block. [PlessPix]
