TSL: North Launceston too strong in second half for the Tigers
The TSL’s reigning premier is making its move after feasting on the Tigers at UTAS Stadium. Two Tigers kicked all of the side’s goals — and all in the first half.
AFL
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A GOALLESS second half burst the Tigers’ bubble at UTAS Stadium on Saturday and moved North Launceston to within striking distance of the top of the ladder after a commanding 56-point win.
A week after downing Clarence for their first win of the season, the Tigers are back on the bottom of the ladder instead of keeping pace with North Hobart, Glenorchy, Lauderdale and the Roos for a spot in the top four and a berth in the finals.
EVERY KICK, EVERY PLAYER, EVERY GAME: SEE THE FULL STATS
The Northern Bombers led by five points at quarter-time and 12 points at half-time.
The Tigers did not kick a goal after the long break, the Bombers restricting them to five points.
It was a statement piece by the reigning premier.
“The first half was wet and it inhibited our ball movement and we didn’t get reward for effort,” said North Launceston coach Taylor Whitford.
“It felt like we had control of the game but to be only two goals up at half-time was disappointing because I felt we were keeping them in the game.
“In the second half we were able to get that scoreboard pressure and that was the difference in the end.”
Bomber big man Bart McCulloch kicked five goals and skipper Brad Cox-Goodyer two as they cashed in on the work done further afield by Bombers like Jack Avent, Sherrin Eggar, Josh Ponting, Cox-Goodyer and Whitford.
“The contested stuff was pretty even until half-time but our midfielders were cleaner in the second half and we were able to get the ball into our forwards one-on-one,” Whitford said.
“Our midfielders were probably a lot cleaner after half-time and we got more fluency in our ball-movement going forward and got rewarded on the scoreboard.”
Onballer Kieran Lovell and tall forward Tyler Carter each kicked two goals for the Tigers while Lachie Gadomski, Elijah Reardon, Sam Duigan and Marcus Davies were among their best.
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