It’s a bumper weekend in sport and Tassie fans are spoiled for choice

Whether you like footy, cricket, netball, hockey or sailing, there is something for every sports fan in Tasmania this weekend

• North Hobart coach Richard Robinson in tears as he tells players he was standing down
• OHA has special reason to win Old Scholars flag in grand final showdown with Hutchins

SPORTS fans will be spoiled for choice this weekend with a host of finals and grand finals on the menu and new seasons about to set sail.

The sporting smorgasbord includes hockey, football, netball, sailing and cricket.

The Derwent will be awash with colour at 2pm today as hundreds of boats take to the harbour for the annual Opening Day sail past to herald the summer sailing season.

Yachts from the three major clubs _ Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, Bellerive Yacht Club and the Derwent Sailing Squadron _ will be joined by boats from the Motor Yacht Club of Tasmania and as far south as the Channel.

The fleet will be led by Gretel II, Australia’s representative at the 1970 America’s Cup, sailed at the time by Sir James Hardy and owned by Sir Frank Packer.

The famous America’s Cup challenger Gretel II. Photo Jessica Coughlan.

The local boats will sail line astern into Sullivans Cove where RYCT Commodore Richard Bevan will be waiting to give them the official salute and before they head to a spot on the Derwent for a raft-up and have nautical picnic/party.

In football, the Tasmanian State League home-and-away series wraps up today with Lauderdale playing Tigers at Lauderdale (2pm), Clarence hosting North Hobart at Richmond Oval (1.30) and ladder leader North Launceston taking on Glenorchy at UTas Stadium (1.40).

In the Southern Football League, Huonville and Cygnet will meet in the second semi-final at Huonville at 3pm, and reigning premier Lindisfarne takes on New Norfolk in the first-semi 2pm at Boyer Oval.

Hutchins and OHA meet in the Old Scholars grand final 2pm at North Hobart Oval, and tomorrow is a bumper day there for the Southern Tasmanian Junior Football League with four grand finals from 10am _ all livestreamed at the Mercury Online.

“Like all sports, players dream of being able to play in a grand final and it doesn’t matter if you’re 13 or 35,” said STJFL executive officer Tony Gibson.

“It is a great chance for these young players to live that dream.”

STJFL players ahead of their grand final games this weekend Front LR Sandy Bay's, Sophie Abel, 16 and North Hobart's, Claire Ransom, 16 and (rear) LR Brightson's, Riley Davie, 12, Claremont's Emma Abrahams, 16, North Hobart's Lily McConnon, 13, Kinborough's Neve Hagan,12, Glenorchy's Talia Drake, 16 and Claremont's Jade Clark, 13. Picture: Zak Simmonds

The hockey finals ramp up with men’s Premier League rivals North-West Graduates and Derwent to clash in the semi-finals at the Tasmanian Hockey Centre.

With two of their roster games decided by a solitary goal and the other encounter a draw, the heat will be on between the two enemies as they fight for a spot in the grand final _ all live streamed on Mercury Online from 3.30pm.

In the men’s elimination final, University goes head-to-head with OHA at 12:30pm, with the winner to stay alive in the finals series and mothballs for the loser.

North-West Grads finished on top in the women’s competition, and take on OHA for a spot in the grand final at 2pm.

The loser survives to take on elimination-final winner, between defending champion Derwent and Diamondbacks at noon.

The cricket season hits off today with the opening round of the Cricket Tasmania Premier League.

The State League netball crown will be decided at the Silverdome in Launceston when reigning premier Cavaliers attempt to go back-to-back when they met cross-town rival Northern Hawks at 2.30pm.

Cripps vs Cavaliers will battle for the state under-19 title at 12.30.

In the World Game, the NPL title race gets serious today with Devonport Strikers face Olympia Warriors 2.15pm at Warrior Park, and Glenorchy Knights meeting South Hobart 4.30pm at KGV.

The Strikers have a four-point lead on top of the table with a showdown looming with second-placed Knights in the final round.