KENTH WARY OF STRIKERS
KINGBOROUGH Lions coach Jez Kenth has heaped praise on Devonport Strikers in the lead up to their match at Valley Road on Saturday, saying they are “one of the strongest squads” he has ever seen in Tasmania.
The Strikers sit at the top of the NPL Tasmania table with just one loss as they look to add to the club’s four league titles in the past six seasons.
While the Lions are within touching distance in third place, Kenth acknowledged Saturday’s game will be a big test for his side.
“In the NPL, and in Tassie in the last few years, there’s no bigger challenge than playing Devonport at Valley Road,” Kenth said. “They’ve been a dominant team for, what, six or seven years, and the squad they’ve got this year is possibly the strongest squad they’ve ever put together.”
Despite a tough loss to secondplaced Glenorchy last week, Kenth said the Lions will be up for the fight. “Everyone looks forward to playing the strong teams, especially on their own paddock,” he said. “It gives us a good challenge and gives us a gauge of where we sit in the NPL ladder.”
Devonport will be without coach Tom Ballantyne (inset) for the match as he isolates at home due to Covid-19.
While he won’t be on the sidelines, Ballantyne is confident his side can still continue its strong form.
“The lads know what’s expected and what needs to be done … I trust them to do their jobs,” Ballantyne said.
The Strikers will again face Kingborough in next week’s Lakoseljac Cup semi-final and Ballantyne knows his team is entering an important period of the season.
“If we can get a win this weekend that sets us up for the next two, we’ve got really big games in a row now,’ Ballantyne said. “We’ve just got to make sure we’re doing the right things on and off the field.”
In Saturday’s other NPL Tasmania fixtures, Glenorchy will travel to Windsor Park to take on a Riverside team still searching for its first win of the season.
South Hobart will host Olympia Warriors at Darcy Street, while Clarence Zebras and Launceston City will meet at Wentworth Park.