Let Round 10 Begin

There are some exciting games this week in the NPL and if one was sceptical about the quality in the league I would suggest to get along to one game in particular. There is still a fight for the top four positions with no one really cemented in yet and there could be more changes within the ladder this week. This week also throws up two games to be played on Sunday and will see Ulverstone travel to Prospect which in my opinion is a little crazy.

Round 10

Launceston City V Devonport 12.00pm Mitsubishi Park

With Launceston’s V League team after the NPL game will probably weaken City’s side and allow Devonport to take top spot with the Sharks having this weeks bye. Mal Gorrie and Rod Andrews would be letting their side know that nothing but a win this week is acceptable and for that matter if they want to win the league, No losses for the rest of the year. With the Strikers V League side travelling to Hobart on the same day this will also weaken their NPL side but have proven thus far that the young guys are very capable of winning with out a more senior presence. Peter Gilham if not called up the V League this week will be the wrecking ball for City and will need to shut him and the drive from Bo Blizzard. Junior Developer Rod Andrews said this

” NPL Coach Mal Gorrie is really happy with how things are travelling at the moment. We continue to develop and provide opportunities our young players, but at the same time provide a quality competitive environment for our more experienced team members. This weekend sees a fairly unsettled line up, with question marks surrounding the availability of a couple of players, as a result of injuries to V League squad members, but that will enable Mal to give some more game time to some NPL fringe players”.

City have a lot of experience in their side and will be looking to like likes of veteran Rodger Mies and Frosty to get them across the line in front of a big home crowed.

Burnie United V Riverside 2.30pm Montello

Burnie host Riverside in which will be one of the cracking games on show this week. With both sides looking to climb the ladder in the second half of the year every thing will be at stake as are both trying to hit the top four.

Riverside of late have had some results that have not gone their way. Narrowly loosing by a single goal and suffering suspensions, Will be looking to reverse these result and looking for a finals berth. Sam Hughs needs to start controlling the game and lifting his boys across the line.Wayne Penfold said this"With one round completed, we are not in the position I would have expected the team to be in. This week we face the very difficult test that is Burnie @ Montello. Although we dominated the first encounter at the start of the season we only came away with a 2-0 win. Recent results haven’t been anywhere acceptable and the players are very keen to get back on the winners list, but knowing full well that Burnie are a dangerous team at home.

Burnie United were very disappointed last week letting the points or point slip in the last few minutes against City last week.

The Burnie boys will be looking for a home win this week. With Peter VanEk back after a week off will only strengthen the back line. He also had these comments.

“Second round of the season and Burnie will be looking to at least double their wins from the first. No easy task as key mid-field player and Captain  Andrew Gibson has picked up a serious knee injury which will put him out for the rest of the season leaving a big hole in Burnie’s structure. Coach Ray Parke will have to do something creative to fill this void.

We take on Riverside at home this week, with the unlucky result last week against City, we will be keen to net some goals at home. Riverside where very physical against us in the first round and we will need to step it up a gear and really attack the ball. Kye Seymour has been a solid player finding his spot in the back line and will need to take charge to control the game. Ground is in really good nice too.

Launceston United V Rangers 2:30pm Birch Ave (SUNDAY)

In the first of the Sunday games bottom placed United take on 5th placed Rangers. United are still with out any points this year but know if they play good football on the day they can take it up to the Rangers after the first leg was evenly contested and United only going down by a goal.

Rangers will be looking g to play for 90 minutes this week after only playing competitive football last week for about 35 minutes. The Rangers NPL side play some nice fast free flowing football and should take the points. Spokesman Brendan Litchendonk said this” After a great first half last week against Somerset, we fell away and had a shocking second half, 90 minutes of football is the focus this week, and we should benefit from some additional experience form our Victory League players this Sunday against Launceston.

Our line up won't be certain until after the Victory League clash, but Alfred Williams and Harry Thannhauser have been excellent in our Under 20 player stakes, and we will look to them against Launceston again.  We need more consistency in midfield for the second half of the year if we are going to press for a top four spot and a chance to play in the finals.

Prospect Knights v Ulverstone 2:30pm Prospect Park (SUNDAY)

This is the game I spoke about at the start about being a craker. Both sides are in form and really play attacking football. Both sides are evenly matched on paper and also are both physical.

With the Knights having two weeks off will be really fresh and rareing to go. I always think a week or two weeks off hurts more than continually playing so im not sure if its good for the knights or not. Coachj Ray Heals said this” Out this week Mark Baker

IN Pip Atherton

The club is looking forward to playing again after a two week break.

Ulverstone have had a couple of good away wins.                                                                             

Last time around it was anyone’s game, very important game if we are to keep in touch with the top four.

Also there is a cheer out to Andrew Robinson who is lining up for his 100^th game for the Knights.

Ulverstone will also be looking to keep its winning trend and make it four from four. With Shaun Conkie coming off the pine last week and scoring the late winner, the Reds will be looking to score earlier and control the game. Ulverstone play a very attacking line up and probably use the Brazil phrase. “You score 4 we will score more”. Connor Meanie is in outstanding form and with Michael Wolfert controlling the back line will be hard to penetrate.

THIS GAME WILL BE WORTH THE $6 ENRTY…..

LADDER AFTER ROUND 9

1	Somerset	8	7	0	1	36	6	30	21
2	Devonport	8	7	0	1	29	9	20	21
3	Ulverstone	8	5	0	3	17	9	8	15
4	Prospect	8	4	1	3	21	14	7	13
5	Nth Rangers	8	4	0	4	14	14	0	12
6	Riverside	8	3	1	4	13	15	-2	10
7	L'ton City	8	2	2	4	12	24	-12	8
8	Burnie	8	2	0	6	9	26	-17	6
9	L'ton United	8	0	0	8	3	37	-34	0