North Hobart was up for the fight, but the Blues proved too big and too good

The Demons were the talk of the TSL after the first three rounds, but it has been tough going since for the North Hobart youngsters.

• Jay Blackberry set to hit a TSL milestone
• North Hobart comes of age after dismantling South’s best TSL team

WITH two wins from its first three rounds, North Hobart concedes it may have been a false dawn as the Demons have now fallen to their seventh straight loss.

Launceston was simply too big and too good for its North Hobart opponents at Windsor Park, running out 40-point winners, 10.12 (72) to 4.8 (32).

EXCLUSIVE MATCH STATS:

Launceston v North Hobart

Kingborough v Clarence

North Launceston v Lauderdale

The Demons were brave and willing, but with 11 teenagers against the hardened, big-bodied Blues, they were always going to be up against it.

After victories over the Tigers and Lauderdale coming off a 10-point round one loss to triple premiers North Launceston on the road, it seemed the Demons were on the rise fast – but it was not to be as they have failed to salute in victory since.

Dees coach Richard Robinson said it was disappointing to lose by that margin but remained confident his side was on the right track.

“In hindsight, winning two of the first three and losing to North Lonny by 10 points maybe we’d thought we’d fast-tracked quicker than we thought we had,” Robinson said.

“There is a fair bit of experience out of the side at present.”

Jay Blackberry reached a major TSL milestone in the match against North Hobart. Picture: zak simmonds

The Demons brought the pressure early, and trailed by only a single point at the first change despite kicking against a slight breeze.

But costly turnovers in defence and an inability to kick to their forwards’ advantage saw the visitors hand momentum to the Blues, who weren’t in the mood to reciprocate.

The Blues’ lopsided marks inside 50m count of 17-2 told the story of the day.

It was good day for the home side celebrating Jay Blackberry becoming just the second player behind Glenorchy’s Jaye Bowden to reach 200 TSL games.

Blackberry had 18 touches and laid seven tackles, only undoing his good work around goal with two majors from five scoring shots.

Star full forward Dylan Riley continued his outstanding season with another bag of five goals, while Fletcher Seymour and Jobi Harper controlled the clearances.

Blues coach Mitch Thorp described the victory as mature, with his side securing a top-two finish and a home final with two rounds to go, despite having the bye in the final round.

“We can have a red hot crack this week against Clarence,” Thorp said.

In his first game for the club, former Mariners captain Tim Jones was impressive with 15 touches, eight tackles and a goal playing predominantly as a forward.

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