Prodigal son Yitay Towns is confident second-placed NORTHERN RANGERS can retain their title after his second hat-trick in three games in a 7-1 thumping of RIVERSIDE.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
"We're in the picture for sure," said the 24-year-old who has returned home from NPL Victoria side Avondale during COVID.
The plumber has opened the floodgates with eight goals in three games. "I don't think I've scored a hat-trick since juniors so it's a good feeling," he added.
The easiest of those came early doors after another NPL Victoria returnee, Luke Eyles, had seen his shot brilliantly saved by Reef Murfet.
Eyles claimed the second from the penalty spot with Wes Chugg adding a couple, Towns completing his hat-trick and Brayden Cobern chipping in a popular free-kick before Jacob Burk claimed a deserved consolation against his old club.
Olympic coach Wayne Penfold said it was "a really disappointing result", adding: "We are a much better team than the performance we dished up today."
LAUNCESTON CITY romped to a 5-0 win over bottom side Burnie United.
Lindsay Duncan registered a hat-trick with Mohsen Mohammadi and Stefan Tantari completing the rout.
Fourth-placed LAUNCESTON UNITED beat Somerset 4-1 as Aidan Rigby (two), Sam Lowe and Christian Byard brought a smile to coach Glenn Reading's face.
"It's always tough travelling up the coast so good to find the back of the net with a few players out but the younger ones really stepped up," he said.
Leaders Devonport dropped two points in a 1-1 draw with Ulverstone.
Women's championship leaders LAUNCESTON UNITED made an emphatic statement with a 9-1 win at Somerset.
A Jess Robinson hat-trick and double for Elodie Grey was added to by Isobel Cootes, Gonya Luate, Annie Reitsema and Abigail Thomas as Cameron Heazlewood's team ran riot.
"I was very impressed with our effort," the coach said. "We were more clinical today and knocked the ball around very well.
"Our squad depth is very strong with a few players out this weekend and a result like this shows why we are where we are on the ladder. It's onto our version of the big dance against Devonport and I'm very excited for a tough game next weekend at home."
Third-placed NORTHERN RANGERS came from behind to beat RIVERSIDE 5-1.
Millie Hansen gave the visitors the lead before goals from Febey Pearce, Abbie Chugg, Moana Chamberlain and a double from Emma Langley.
Goals from Sarah Campbell and Rebecca Barrett earned LAUNCESTON CITY a 2-2 draw with Burnie United.
Second-placed Devonport Strikers snuck home 11-0 against bottom-placed Ulverstone.
Rob Shaw
Heralding the impact of Tasmanian sport without saying "punching above its weight" is not as easy as it sounds.
Heralding the impact of Tasmanian sport without saying "punching above its weight" is not as easy as it sounds.
