Not every issue in NPL is done and dusted yet with two rounds to go

Photo:  Devonport's Roberto Fernandez Garrido should finish as the NPL Tasmania leading marksman. [PlessPix]

 With the NPL Tasmania title done and dusted, attention switches this weekend to the fight for second spot and to the subject of the wooden spoon.

Three teams can still finish second.  They are South Hobart, Kingborough Lions United and Glenorchy Knights.

South Hobart and Glenorchy Knights should be reasonably confident of winning this weekend, while the Lions face a more difficult task away to fifth-placed Launceston City.

If all win, then the final day of the season next weekend will decide second place.

Fourth-ranked Glenorchy Knights meet second-last Olympia Warriors away at Empire Couriers Park at 8pm today and a win would put them in second spot and place pressure on South Hobart and the Lions to perform.

An Olympia loss, would unsettle the Warriors, but not unduly, as Riverside Olympic are hardly likely to come away from Valley Road with any points tomorrow.

The final day of the season is unlikely to be a the nail biter as Olympia will face Launceston City and Riverside confront South Hobart.

Both the Warriors and Riverside could lose those games, which means the status quo would be maintained.

I would venture to say it’s all a storm in a teacup and that Riverside are doomed to the wooden spoon and the Warriors will finish second-last, even if only by virtue of goal-difference.

I am a firm believer in the first-past-the-post system to decide the champions.

But, it would be nice to finish the season with something like a top-four series so that fans are eased into the off-season break rather than have the season end suddenly.

NPL Tasmania Standings (As at 27 August 2022)

TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Devonport Strikers	19	17	1	1	62	10	52
South Hobart	19	12	3	4	60	21	39
Kingborough Lions	19	12	2	5	50	32	38
Glenorchy Knights	19	12	1	6	43	22	37
Launceston City	19	8	2	9	33	43	26
Clarence Zebras	19	5	2	12	32	44	17
Olympia Warriors	19	2	0	17	20	67	6
Riverside Olympic	19	1	3	15	12	74	6