Greater Northern League Round 16 Preview

Published Thu 06 Aug 2026

Round 16 of the Greater Northern League Men’s season begins at McKenna Park, where undefeated ladder leaders Burnie Baptist take on City Marians.

Burnie continued their perfect season with an 8-2 victory over Launceston City last weekend, the same scoreline by which they defeated this week’s opponents in their previous meeting.

City Marians endured a difficult afternoon against Queechy in Round 15, falling to a 15-0 defeat. Despite that result, they remain only two points behind fourth-placed Smithton and firmly in the finals race. They face another daunting assignment against the competition leaders but will be eager to respond with an improved performance.

At Smithton, the home side returns from the bye to take on West Devonport in an important match at both ends of the ladder.

Smithton currently occupy fourth place on 20 points, two clear of City Marians. With Marians facing Burnie Baptist this weekend, Smithton have a prime opportunity to strengthen their hold on the final position inside the top four. They were too strong when the sides last met, claiming a 4-2 victory.

West Devonport climbed off the foot of the ladder with a 2-1 win over the South Launceston Suns last weekend. That result moved them level with the Suns and Launceston City on nine points.

Those two sides will meet at the Aurora Energy Northern Hockey Centre, offering both teams an opportunity to claim valuable points in the battle to avoid a last-placed finish. The Suns produced their best performance of the season in the previous encounter, recording a thumping 8-2 victory.

The final match of the round will see Tamar Churinga take on the Queechy Penguins at the Aurora Energy Northern Hockey Centre.

Queechy’s 15-0 demolition of City Marians was the most emphatic victory recorded by any side this season. It also provided such a significant boost to their goal difference that they moved above South Burnie and into second place.

With South Burnie having the bye, Queechy can move three points clear in second and strengthen their position in the race for the double chance with another victory.

Tamar Churinga remain sixth following a 5-0 defeat against South Burnie, although just one point separates the bottom four sides, leaving their grip on that position precarious. The previous meeting between Queechy and Tamar ended in a 4-0 victory for the Penguins.

Round 16 of the Greater Northern League Women’s season begins at McKenna Park, where second-placed South Burnie take on third-placed Launceston City.

South Burnie continued their impressive campaign with a commanding 6-1 victory over Tamar Churinga last weekend. That result moved them onto 36 points, three behind the unbeaten Queechy Penguins, ensuring the race for the minor premiership remains alive.

Launceston City played out a 1-1 draw with City Marians in Round 15, leaving the sides level on 26 points. City hold third place courtesy of their superior goal difference but face a difficult assignment against a South Burnie team they held to a 0-0 draw in their previous meeting.

Next, South Launceston face City Marians at the Aurora Energy Northern Hockey Centre in a must-win game for the Suns, with the sides having split their two meetings this season.

Both teams were held to 1-1 draws last weekend, with the Suns missing an opportunity to gain ground on the top four when they shared the points with West Devonport. They remain seven points behind Launceston City and City Marians, and with only two rounds remaining after this weekend, their finals prospects are now looking increasingly remote.

Smithton and West Devonport will meet at Smithton in an important contest that could shape where both sides finish, with only three points separating them in sixth and seventh place.

Smithton suffered a 5-1 defeat against ladder leaders Queechy last weekend, while West Devonport earned their third draw of the season in a 1-1 result against South Launceston. The previous meeting between the sides ended in a 3-2 Smithton victory.

The final match of the round pits bottom-placed Tamar Churinga against the undefeated Queechy Penguins at the Aurora Energy Northern Hockey Centre.

Queechy extended their unbeaten run with a 5-1 victory over Smithton in Round 15. The Penguins have now won 12 of their 15 matches, scoring 69 goals while conceding only 11, and hold a three-point lead over South Burnie at the top of the ladder.

Tamar found the net against South Burnie last weekend but ultimately fell to a 6-1 defeat. Still searching for their first victory of the season, they will enter as underdogs against the competition leaders, who have recorded comfortable victories in both previous meetings between the sides.

Round 16 Fixtures

Saturday 8 August

Men

Burnie Baptist v City Marians,12:30pm, McKenna Park

Smithton v West Devonport ,12:30pm, Smithton

Launceston City v South Launceston Suns, 2:00pm, Aurora Energy Northern Hockey Centre 1

Tamar Churinga v Queechy Penguins, 5:00pm, Aurora Energy Northern Hockey Centre 1

Bye: South Burnie

Women

South Burnie v Launceston City, 11:00am, McKenna Park

South Launceston v City Marians ,12:30pm, Aurora Energy Northern Hockey Centre 1

Smithton v West Devonport, 2:00pm, Smithton