Lauderdale snaps three-match State League skid with blistering first-quarter onslaught

Lauderdale produced its best quarter of the 2020 TSL season to get the jump on a tame Tigers outfit and return to the winners’ circle for the first time in a month.

Lauderdale players Robbie McManus and Nicholas Raglione collide in the air over the top of Kingborough's Elijah Reardon. Picture: PATRICK GEE

• Bombers fire warning shot at TSL rivals
• Boom recruit eager to prove a point

A FIRST-term onslaught that netted more goals than it had kicked in each of its three consecutive losses saw Lauderdale return to the TSL winners’ list at the Twin Ovals.

With a stiff breeze at their back, the Bombers piled on 9.1 against a stunned Tigers brigade to set up a commanding 43-point buffer at the first change.

EXCLUSIVE: See all the players stats from the game

The hosts managed to make the contest far more competitive from that point but were ultimately undone 15.7 (97) to 9.12 (66).

Lauderdale had managed just 6.5, 5.10 and 4.9 in its past three outings, while also booting 9.13 in the round two victory against Glenorchy.

However with VFL recruit Luke Nelson slotting three first term majors and Harry Richmond booting the first two of the match, the Bombers rocketed to a 37-point break before the Tigers knew what hit them.

Lauderdale recruit Luke Nelson, seen here in action against North Hobart last month, kicked three first-quarter goals against the Tigers. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

After a quiet start on his return to the State League, boom recruit Mackenzie Willis worked his way into the game in the second quarter alongside Kieran Lovell, and with Tyler Carter (4.4) converting up forward, the home side had reduced the gap to 21 points at the main break and arguably could have been closer.

The Bombers steadied after half time and twice stretched the gap to six goals, but Carter’s fourth major in the shadows of the siren kept the Tigers in touch, and when Edward Burrows-Cheng slotted the opening goal of the last stanza inside the first minute, the crowd found its voice.

But the heavens opened to make handling a slippery ball difficult and the visitors got their campaign back on track.

“I thought our work around stoppage and around the contest with our hands was outstanding early in the game,” said Bombers assistant coach Daniel Willing, who was again left to comment with Darren Winter continuing his self-imposed media ban.

“We got first hands on the ball, got the ball on the outside really well and it gave our forwards a good look at the ball, which is something we haven’t been able to do.

“Nine goals, we have been struggling to kick nine goals in a game. I thought they were pretty good after that, but when you are up nine goals to two at the first break it is a long way back.”

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