Peter Savill has pulled the strings to now mastermind a NPL Summer Series title in charge of Hobart Zebras.
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The veteran coach to Launceston City, Northern Rangers and Devonport City has transferred his success during the offseason switch.
The 61-year-old Savill had turned the Strikers from seventh in 2015 to last year’s NPL Tasmanian champions that included Lakoseljac Cup and League Cup wins and the FFA Cup round of 16.
Savill’s men had went down on Saturday in a bittersweet 1-0 loss to Devonport at Windsor Park, but a 3-0 win over Olympia Warriors had ensured the Zebras took home the preseason trophy.
Looking settled in his new surroundings, the modest Savill admitted to a “pretty good start” heading into a first campaign down south.
“Obviously we’re happy to win it because we’ve been struggling,” Savill said.
“We’ve had player losses and it’s been hard getting the team together – it’s hard work, but that’s what it is.”
And it was Launceston City, the club that started it all for the Englishman, who did the Zebras a favour to secure the series.
City managed a 2-2 draw against the fancied Olympia, a key game new coach Ben Brookfield had identified as an early-season test.
The side collected another point facing Clarence United in a repeat four-goal draw to finish the competition fifth, with one win and three draws from six matches.
Northern Rangers celebrated their first win of the new year, the 2-0 victory over Devonport City ending the Strikers’ chances of grasping the preseason series.
Andrew Mathieson
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
