Greater Northern League Round 8 Preview

The Greater Northern League returns this week after a week off over the Long weekend. 

In the Men's competition, ladder leaders Burnie Baptist remain the team to beat after extending their unbeaten start to the season in Round 7. The competition pacesetters downed West Devonport 4-0 to improve to seven wins from seven matches, opening up an eight-point lead at the top of the table. This week they face sixth-placed City Marians, who enter the contest with renewed confidence after a valuable 5-3 victory over South Burnie last weekend. The win lifted them to sixth on the ladder and kept them within touching distance of the top four. However, they face the toughest challenge in the competition against a Burnie Baptist side that has scored 38 goals while conceding just two all season.

At the Aurora Energy Northern Hockey Centre, third placed Queechy Penguins take on ninth-placed Tamar Churinga. The Penguins moved into third position after edging Launceston City 3-2 in Round 7 and currently sit level on points with second-placed South Burnie, albeit having played one fewer match. Tamar Churinga will be looking to spring an upset and climb off the bottom of the ladder after a difficult start to the season.

At Meercroft Park, fourth-placed Smithton travel to face seventh-placed West Devonport. Smithton were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw against South Launceston Suns in Round 7, leaving them three points outside the top four. West Devonport, meanwhile, will be eager to bounce back after their heavy defeat to Burnie Baptist. With Smithton holding a four-point advantage over their opponents, this looms as an important match for both sides' finals aspirations.

The final fixture of the round sees eighth-placed South Launceston Suns host fifth-placed Launceston City at the Northern Hockey Centre. The Suns showed encouraging signs last weekend, earning a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Smithton, while Launceston City pushed Queechy Penguins all the way before falling 3-2. With just two points separating the two sides on the ladder, the result could have significant implications in the congested middle section of the competition.

In the Women’s competition, the match of the round sees second-placed City Marians host third-placed South Burnie in a clash that could have significant implications for the top four race. City Marians maintained second spot last weekend with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Tamar Churinga, while South Burnie strengthened their position with a 2-0 win over West Devonport.

A valuable opportunity presents itself for both seventh-placed West Devonport and sixth-placed Smithton, as they meet in a battle between teams searching for their second win of the season. Neither side was able to claim points in Round 7, with West Devonport falling 2-0 to South Burnie and Smithton going down 3-1 to South Launceston.

Fourth-placed Launceston City travels to face fifth-placed South Launceston in a crucial local derby. Launceston City suffered a setback in Round 7, going down 3-1 to competition leaders Queechy Penguins, while South Launceston continued their push toward the top four with an impressive 3-1 victory over Smithton.

The ladder leaders will be aiming to continue their unbeaten campaign when Queechy Penguins host eighth-placed Tamar Churinga. Queechy extended their lead at the top of the table in Round 7 with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over fourth-placed Launceston City. The win improved their record to five wins and two draws from seven matches, while their league-best defence has conceded just six goals all season. Tamar Churinga remains in search of a first win after falling 1-0 to City Marians last round. Despite sitting at the foot of the ladder, they have been competitive in recent weeks and will look to challenge the competition benchmark.

Men’s

West Devonport vs Smithton, 12:30pm, Meercroft Park

Queechy Penguins vs Tamar Churinga, 12:30pm, Aurora Energy Northern Hockey Centre

City Marians vs Burnie Baptist, 2:00pm, McKenna Park

South Launceston Suns vs Launceston City, 3:30pm, Aurora Energy Northern Hockey Centre

Women’s

City Marians vs South Burnie, 12:30pm, McKenna Park

West Devonport vs Smithton, 2:00pm, Meercroft Park

South Launceston vs Launceston City, 2:00pm, Northern Hockey Centre 1

Queechy Penguins vs Tamar Churinga, 5:00pm, Northern Hockey Centre NHC1