Bombers victory in TSL onslaught

The Bombers have walked away with a 15.14 (104) to 10.11 (71) victory in their first home match of the year, pulling clear in the second half having been severely tested in the first.

Bryce Walsh of Lauderdale and Jobi Harper of Launceston in Saturday’s Lauderdale V Launceston Tasmanian State League match. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

LAUDERDALE has survived a Mitch Thorp-inspired onslaught to defeat Launceston and improve its start to the State League season to 2-0.

The Bombers walked away with a 15.14 (104) to 10.11 (71) victory in their first home match of the year, pulling clear in the second half having been severely tested in the first.

The Blues found themselves 15 points clear entering time-on in the second quarter having piled on five unanswered goals, three of which came from coach Thorp in a stunning seven-minute burst.

Ethan Conway of Launceston and Haydn Smith of Lauderdale in Saturday’s Lauderdale V Launceston Tasmanian State League match. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Thor Boscott of Lauderdale and Tyson Miller of Launceston in Saturday’s Lauderdale V Launceston Tasmanian State League match. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Jack Donnellan of Launceston and Haydn Smith of Lauderdale in Saturday’s Lauderdale V Launceston Tasmanian State League match. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Lauderdale steadied with the last three majors to edge ahead at the main break and then ramped up the pressure in the third stanza, kicking 5.7 to 2.2.

Former Smithton coach Matt Elliott booted two of his three goals in the third, including one just before the siren to push the advantage to 24 points.

Jobi Harper landed the first goal of the last term to give the visitors a sniff before Edward Trupp replied, and when Jacob Gillbee grabbed his third in the dying stage it helped seal the result.

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Defenders Josh McGuinness and Nick Raglione were solid for the Bombers all day, while Sam Siggins continued his impressive start to the year.

Harper was among the best players for Launceston, with 2011 TSL best and fairest Tim Bristow bobbing up with two goals in his first match for the club since returning from Western Australia.

Phillip Bellchambers of Lauderdale and Jack Donnellan of Launceston in Saturday’s Lauderdale V Launceston Tasmanian State League match. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Henry Kerinaiua of Lauderdale and Brendan Taylor of Launceston in Saturday’s Lauderdale V Launceston Tasmanian State League match. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

BLUES SAY THEY’RE PLAYING HOW THEY WANT, NOW IT’S SUSTAINING IT

A NEW look Launceston is not far away from breaking through – it just needs to sustain its best football for longer, according to coach Mitch Thorp.

The Blues, who have turned over nearly a dozen players from the team which crashed out of last year’s TSL finals in straight sets, pushed Lauderdale for a half yesterday before fading to a 33-point loss.

Led by a seven minute purple patch from Thorp in the second term, who kicked three consecutive majors as the visitors piled on five unanswered to snatch the lead, Launceston had control of the contest entering time on.

However the Bombers responded with the last three goals into the breeze to grab the momentum and then pulled away in the second half as their more experienced players lifted.

While disappointed having backed up the effort shown against Glenorchy for large periods last week but still walking away without any points after two rounds, Thorp praised his young squad’s endeavour.

“We have played the two sides who knocked us out of the finals last year in round one and two, we knew we had a solid start,” said Thorp who finished with 4.3.

“For much of last week and much of this week we were right in the game.

“I guess what we take from it is we need to be better for longer, we need to be harder to play against for longer.

“Today we had 87 tackles, which is a lot for a TSL team, no questioning the effort is there, it is more the longer the game went the more their experience showed out.

“We are playing how we want to play, we just have to do it for longer.”

The Blues’ experienced players led from the front, with Jobi Harper and Brendan Taylor leading the way, while on his return from five years in the WAFL Tim Bristow kicked two goals.

TSL WRAP

North Launceston just keeps on keeping on, with the TSL powerhouse recording a comfortable 21-point win over Clarence at University of Tasmania Stadium.

With a few premiership players moving on, it was hoped by many the Northern Bombers would be coming back to the pack.

But so far all the evidence is off the contrary.

In a low scoring game, the hosts led at every change and could have won by a lot more except for inaccuracy, prevailing 7.15 (57) 5.6 (36).

It was the Roos first game for the season, having had the round one bye, and while not disgraced given a number of youngsters on debut, Clarence now knows the benchmark it must aim for.

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