Hell of a day for Demons as North Launceston warms up for another TSL flag

North Launceston looks to be heading towards another TSL premiership, unless there’s a team out there that can stop the Northern Bombers in their tracks

North Hobart’s Nathan McCulloch tackles North Launceston’s Mark Walsh. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

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IF there is a team out there that can beat North Launceston, please step forward.

That’s because the Northern Bombers are in premiership-winning form — again — and they haven’t even hit stop gear.

Sure, the Bombers were beaten by Launceston at the Blues’ home ground in round two.

Since then, the TSL’s reigning premier has gone on a six-game winning streak that included retribution on Launceston last start, and a crisp win over North Hobart at North Hobart Oval on Saturday.

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North Hobart v North Launceston

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The Bombers barely got out of third gear in their win over the Demons, turning a 22-point quarter-time lead into a 56-point pummeling — 11.20 (86) 4.6 (30).

North Hobart’s backline was under severe pressure all day, and had it not been for Hugh Williams senior and Sam Collins especially, the damage might have ended up in three figures.

Collins had the job on Bombers tall and AFL Draft chance Jackson Callow and did admirably to restrict him to one goal.

North Launceston’s Jackson Callow with the ball. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

It was a tough day at the office for “Jacko”, who had to leave the ground in the first quarter after a smack in the face in a marking contest, and early in the final term after he badly sprained his right ankle.

“Jackson rolled it so he will get checked, but he was able to walk after the game and that’s a positive,” said North Launceston coach Taylor Whitford.

Bombers sensation Josh Ponting had his wings clipped by Demon tagger Nathan McCulloch, but young gun Ollie Sanders soared in a best-afield performance.

Bombers ruckman Alex Lee hand-fed his men the footy, and cheeky forward Dan Withers equalled Sanders in kicking two goals.

North Hobart found majors hard to come by, so thank goodness for Demons fans that long lost son Julian Dobosz is on loan from his Melbourne club, as the “Bosz” nailed half of his side’s four goals.

North Launceston had 31 scoring shots and nine players scored goals.

“We didn’t rely on one goal kicker, and that was really good because Bart McCulloch didn’t play,” Whitford said.

“To have a good spread, and not be reliant on one main forward, as North Hobart was with Dobosz, was really good.

“I thought Tommy Donnelly did a fantastic job him, probably helped by our team defence.”