Second-quarter Bombers blitz sets up comfortable victory in Eastern Shore derby
One dominant quarter was all Lauderdale needed to kickstart its 2020 State League season in style and signal its intentions for the year.
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IT took some time to shake off the rust but Lauderdale landed its first blow of the shortened 2020 TSL campaign against Eastern Shore rivals Clarence.
Beaten grand finalists for the past three years, the Bombers secured a 41-point victory with an 11.10 (76) to 5.5 (35) result built on an impressive burst during the second quarter which blew the contest open.
Having dominated possession in the first term for little reward, the hosts kicked two late majors to finally get some scoreboard pressure only for Roos coach Jeromey Webberley to respond inside the first minute after quarter time.
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The hosts immediately responded and finished the stanza with another four unanswered goals to take a match-winning 38-point advantage into the long break.
A new-look forward line containing Toutai Havea (three goals), Cygnet recruit Jake Dance and Tyler Martin (two apiece) caused headaches for the visitors’ defence, while wingman Alex Hevey bobbed up with two goals as well.
Clarence rallied after half time and won the third quarter with the only two majors and when newly promoted vice-captain Ethan Jackson marked and kicked truly early in the last the deficit was back to a manageable 25 points.
Hevey again replied quickly after Havea pulled down a big mark 20m out but was unable to take his kick due to cramp, and when best afield Josh McGuinness goaled on the run from 35m after weaving through traffic at the 10-minute mark, it sealed the result for the Bombers.
“It has been a tough lead in to the game and we didn’t know what was coming our way, so to get a win on the board straight up is what we wanted and pleasing,” coach Darren Winter said.
“I thought we moved the ball pretty well most of the time but we got bogged down a bit in the third quarter.
“We spent a lot of time in our forward line for no reward.”
With co-captain Bryce Walsh (groin) a late withdrawal after pulling up sore on Thursday night, utility Sam Siggins helped pick up the midfield slack, while new recruit Adrian Kalcovski did some nice things and added a late goal on his TSL debut.
Webberley, who kicked two goals playing predominantly in the forward 50, was left ruing the second-quarter fade out.
“We lost it around the contest but also our ability to then follow up and get goal-side of them was non-existent,” he said.
“Just that second quarter, their ability to get out of stoppages with handball and continue to surge it forward, that was disappointing.
“At half time we were pretty shattered but to the player’s credit they fought on pretty well in the second half.”
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