Greater Northern League
HUGE DAY ON THE COAST
The North-West Coast will host a massive round in the Greater Northern League this Saturday, with results likely to make or break seasons for several teams and open up opportunities for others.
Smithton Hockey Club will welcome South Launceston Suns Hockey Club to Smithton where the bottom-placed Saints women have a chance to spoil the Suns' week if they can produce an upset at home at 12:30pm. The Suns know that a win could well secure them a finals berth, while a loss could leave them vulnerable to the chasing pack. That's followed by an absolute blockbuster between the men at 2pm, with the second-placed Suns hoping to knock off the fourth-placed Saints. The winner can just about book their tickets for the finals, but the Saints will be nervously looking over their shoulder if they lose! With plenty to play for it's going to be fantastic to watch.
At McKenna Park Sports Complex in Burnie City Marians Hockey Club hosts a double header against Queechy Penguins Hockey Club with the women pushing back at 12:30pm and the men at 2pm. Both sides are in a good position to secure finals in the women's, and a win for either side will just about seal it, but also in play is a chance at a top-two finish. Will the awesome attacking power of Marians win the day, or will it be the superb defence of Queechy Penguins? For the men both sides look like they are out of the running, although a win will leave the door open one more week for a miracle to happen.
Then it's a huge day at Meercroft Park in Devonport as West Devonport Hockey Club host Launceston City Hockey Club in the women's at 12:15pm and the men's at 2pm, followed by the men's clash between Devonport Hockey Club and Burnie Baptist Hockey Club at 3:45pm.
The Dragons sit on top of the women's ladder while City are sitting fifth. That leaves all the pressure on LCHC to make the play and get the win to potentially force themselves back into the top four. It's a different story in the men's, with the Dragons sitting at the opposite end of the table and Launceston City in desperate need of a big win to put them back in the frame for the finals.
And if Devonport can produce an upset against defending premiers and ladder-leaders Baptist, and other results go in their favour on the day, they could well find themselves inside the top 4! After their massive victory against Launceston City last week they are on a roll, but with only a maximum six points left available for them for the rest of the regular season they are going to need to be at their best!
It's bound to be an incredible weekend of hockey action, so get on down to your local centre and support your team, while keeping in mind that COVID-19 restrictions do still apply: https://hockeytasmania.com.au/return-to-hockey-hub/ ... See more