Clarence makes a late dash for Cup

WHILE the NPL Tasmania title seems destined to be heading to South Hobart, the battle for a place in the League Cup — and the wooden spoon — is just heating up.

The top six clubs qualify for the season-ending League Cup trophy, and Clarence United coach Alan Jablonski believes his side, which now sits on the bottom of the table, can push for a spot.

Its charge starts with a match against the fourthplaced Hobart Zebras at Wentworth Park tomorrow night.

The game will be played for the Luke Cripps Memorial Shield, which is named in honour of Luke Cripps, who played for both clubs before he died in 2012.

Just two points separate the sixth-placed Kingborough Lions from Clarence with five rounds to play, and Jablonski hopes his injury-plagued side can get some reward for what has been a tough season.

“I think even if we’d had 90 per cent of our best 11 out there all year we would be a lot higher up the ladder than we are,” Jablonski said.

“It would be excellent play in the League Cup].

“You always try and play as deep into the season as you can, and it’s certainly something that the boys are aspiring to achieve.”

Even if they don’t make the League Cup, Jablonski hopes his team can climb off the foot of the ladder.

“No one wants to be there,” he said.

The Zebras have been stuck in fourth place for several weeks, but coach Tommy Fotak said his players were still fighting to improve and move up the ladder.

“There’s plenty of motivation in the squad,” he said. “Position on the ladder doesn’t [to really matter. These are competitive boys and they just want to win games.”

The Olympia Warriors can end the Strikers’ slim title hopes with a win at Valley Road tomorrow.

Devonport is already seven points behind South Hobart and desperately needs a win to stay in touch with the top.

The third-placed Warriors can leapfrog the Strikers into second with a win.

Regardless of the outcome of the game between the Strikers and the Warriors, South can all but seal the title with a win over the fifth-placed Northern Rangers at the NTCA on Sunday.

The Lions will be looking to consolidate a League Cup spot when they take on seventhplaced Launceston City at Lightwood Park.