A 3-2 win to South Hobart over Northern Rangers has them on the precipice of the 2017 League title. Goals from Leszczynski, Kemp and Hamlett saw them past a plucky Rangers side who pushed them all the way and scored goals through Jones and Nick Lanau-Atkinson.

The win leaves South Hobart with a 10 points gap to second and just 4 rounds remaining, they now only require a single win from their final 4 games and can wrap it up next Sunday against the Kingborough Lions.

South dominated the Rangers for large parts of the game however the Northern Rangers will take a fair few positives from the loss. A delayed start at the NTCA saw both sides itching for the kick off, and as expected South Hobart took the initiative and were asking questions of the young Northern Rangers back four. South moved the ball around the ground quickly and it was obvious to see the game plan was to try and get the ball out wide to test the Rangers full backs. Gorrie was showing why he is one of the premier full backs in the competition with his directness and his ability to pick out passes. The first fifteen minutes saw target man Leszcynski in the thick of the action with his height and ability in the air continually tormenting Fulton and Cross.

The first clear chance came in the 15th minute when a Nicholas Morton goal bound shot was marvellously cut out by Alex Fulton. Throughout the half, South continued to get in behind the back four but their final pass and or their final touch was letting them down.

After about 8 shots South finally unlocked the stubborn Northern Rangers defence as Leszcynski was played in at the back stick by the industrious Nicholas Morton, Leszcynski steadied himself and fired well into the corner leaving Whatman absolutely no chance.

The impressive big man’s day up North finished prematurely after he pulled up short on a run and he would be replaced by Benjamin “Hammer time” Hamlett.

Rangers hit back in the 35th minute through Mitchell Jones, the usually organised back four of South was nowhere to be seen as Brown was left 1 v 1 with Jones who made no mistake and slotted coolly for the Northerners to square it at 1-1 heading into half time.

The second half saw a completely different version of South Hobart, they were constantly trying to play in Hamlett by using his pace and direct in behind running. In the 50th minute South reinstalled their lead through a composed Kobe Kemp drive, there had been a goal mouth scramble but the young South Hobart midfielder would react first and finish into the bottom left-hand corner.

The next 15 minutes saw the Rangers dial up the pressure but they couldn’t finish their chances. It would take South Hobart until the 74th minute to seal their win when an at the back post an unmarked Hamlett fired past the encroaching Whatman.

Rangers produced an immediate response through Nic Lanau-Atkinson. Who fired a wonderful outside of the boot strike inside the 6-yard box past brown. Rangers pushed numbers forward but South dug deep and were able to keep the Rangers out.

A happy but relieved Ken Morton admitted the title race was all but over now.

” Yeah happy with the win, 10 Points clear now so yeah I think the title is ours but I would prefer to win it at home as it will be a bit more special in front of our fans”

“Credit to the boys, The Rangers can be a plucky team so you can’t really drop off, but we fought hard and deserve our three points”

“A hamstring issue with Albie, we’ll get it looked at during the week and go from there”

Lino Sciulli was pleased with his side despite the loss.

“No, I wouldn’t say I’m disappointed. The boys showed great fight and heart so I’m happy about that”

“South is a quality side so it’s always a test for us “

“I was happy with the boys, Harry (Thannhauser) was good and did his job but honestly really happy with all the boys