SCRAPPY play dominated the Greater Northern Hockey League games making them most low-scoring affairs.
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South Launceston Suns were lucky to get away with their win over Burnie Baptist in Launceston.
The young Suns side rushed their plays, consistently being turned over with bad passes as the game flowed from end to end, with Baptist unable to capitalise as Suns keeper Jamie Pinner covered the net well.
As the time ran down on the first half James Sexton found some space in the Baptist circle to slip one past Callum Poke and give the Suns the lead.
It was more of the same in the second half with the Suns holding the ball in the Baptist half but failing to find the net.
It was Baptist coach Matt Selby who sent a loose ball in front of the Suns net to level the game, five minutes into the half.
The urgency went up as did the mistakes with rushed passages of play from both teams until the 69th minute, when the Suns fired into the Baptist circle where Jeremy Stebbings got stick to the pacey ball, guiding past the keeper to give the Suns the win.
The City Marians and Smithton game at McKenna Park was a similar affair from all reports, with Smithton applying plenty of pressure on fast breaks but finding the Bloods Craig McCarthy stopping the attack with consummate ease.
The Bloods created plenty of chances at the other end, but failed to convert with Liam Grundy posting the only goal for the game in the first half.
Smithton's Jason House covered plenty of ground in an attempt to keep the Saints in the game in a best on ground performance.
Queechy Penguins hosted South Burnie in another close encounter, with the Q's posting the first goal - a field goal for Jordan Reid in the 16th minute.
The Hawks had it all to do from there and club stalwart Roger Ambrose appeared to be in everything from defence to solid forward forays as he fed the forwards the ball to attack the Q's circle.
As the half wound down Hawk Andrew Sargent converted a penalty corner to level the game.
The game pace picked up as the Hawks took the torch to the Q's in an effort to take the win and bridge the gap to the top four.
Isaac Woo posted the Hawks' second 15 minutes in.
The game gained intensity with overheads and solid passing plays and a penalty corner drag flick that bounced off the crossbar giving the Hawks the win at games end.
Devonport hosted Tamar Churinga and came away the day's biggest winners with a five-goal, percentage-boosting margin.
The Subbies opened their account just two minutes in with a corner conversion flick from Callum Dubbeld, to be followed five minutes later with a trademark Mick Williams field goal.
Tamar tightened their defensive strategy in an attempt to stem the flow, keeping the Subbies scoreless for the next 20 minutes while they created opportunities for themselves.
With four minutes of the half remaining the Subbies Jase Davis added another to give them a commanding lead.
The Subbies started the second half quickly, adding another in the first 60 seconds, with Jack Brophy adding one for the Greenmen in the next minute.
Devonport found the net twice more to run out solid winners.
Results - South Launceston d Burnie Baptist 2-1. Goals — SUNS: J. Sexton, J. Stebbings. BAPTIST: M. Selby. Best — SOUTH: A. McBain, J. Stebbings, J. Sexton. BAPTIST: T. Wylie, M. Selby, J. Poke.
City Marians d Smithton 1-0. Goals — MARIANS: L. Grundy. Best — MARIANS: C. McCarthy, R. Gates, S. Vandenberg. SAINTS: J. House, D. Thorpe, N. Kingston.
South Burnie d Queechy 2-1. Goals — SOUTH BURNIE: A. Sargent, I. Woo. QUEECHY: J. Reid. Best — HAWKS: R. Ambrose, J. Dart, T. Bax. QUEECHY: C. Lawson, R. Horne, T. Moir.
Devonport d Tamar 6-1. Goals — DEVONPORT: C. Dubeld 2, B. Will 2, J. Davis, M. Williams. TAMAR: J. Brophy. Best — DEVONPORT: B. Will, C. Dubbeld, M. Williams. TAMAR: R. Partridge, F. Poynter, R. John.