Greater Northern League: Week 3 Preview

Published Thu 30 Apr 2026

Greater Northern League returns for Round 3 after a week's hiatus, with the first Friday night Hockey of the season kicking off the round with a double header at the Aurora Energy Northern Hockey Centre.

In the Men's competition, Tamar Churinga and Launceston City will get things started under the Friday night lights, as both sides go in search of a first victory of the season. Tamar Churinga have fallen narrowly to Smith and Burnie across the opening rounds, whilst City were downed by the defending Premiers in Burnie Baptist in their only game of the season so far.

Saturday will see the action shifting to the Coast, where West Devonport will look to bounce back from a narrow Round 2 defeat, falling 3-2 at the hands of City Marians, when they play host to South Burnie. The 2026 runners-up have made a strong start to the season, winning their first two matches to sit second on the ladder.

Ladder leaders Burnie Baptist have picked up where they left off in 2025 so far this year, scoring 16 goals across two thumping victories in the opening fortnight of the season, meaning the South Launceston Suns will have their work cut out if they are to find their first win of the season, after a pair of narrow defeats in their first 2 matches.

The final game of the round will see Smithton play its first home game of the season, as they entertain the Queechy Penguins. Smithton produced a strong outing in their first game of the season in Round 2, downing Tamar Churinga 4-1 thanks to a pair of goals from Richard Cornish. Queechy enjoyed a mixed opening two rounds, starting out with a 5-1 win over City Marians before crashing back to earth in a 9-2 Round 2 loss to Burnie Baptist.

In the Women's competition, Tamar Churinga and Launceston City will get things started on the Friday night, with both sides coming off draws in Round 2 action. Tigers star Phillida Bridley scored a hat-trick as she played for City in Round 2 and helped them secure a surprise 3-3 draw with the defending Premiers Queechy whilst Tamar grabbed a first point of the season in a defensively dominated 1-1 draw with Smithton.

On Saturday morning at Meercroft Park, West Devonport will be hoping to kick-start their season after a pair of opening-round defeats, but will be up against it as they take on the current ladder leaders in South Burnie, who have shown some strong defensive solidity thus far, to claim 2-1 and 1-0 victories and are the only side to post 2 wins from 2 games in the league.

A mid-table battle between South Launceston and City Marians will take place at McKenna Park, with both sides posting a win and a loss so far on the season to sit fourth and fifth, with the Suns' superior goal difference currently seeing them occupy the last finals spot on the ladder.

Finally, Smithton take on Queechy, who currently sit in second place but remain the team to beat in 2026 as they look to defend their title. Goals have been at a premium in Smithton's matches so far, a 1-1 draw and 2-0 defeat, and they will hope to keep it tight against a Penguins outfit with no shortage of firepower, with 7 different players having scored for them so far this year.