Lauderdale moves two games clear at top of SFL Premier League ladder with win over Clarence
Sam Siggins “phenomenal” in Lauderdale’s SFL Premier League win over Clarence in top-of-the-ladder showdown, says coach. What he said.
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Lauderdale distanced itself from Clarence at the top of the SFL Premier League ladder after the beach boys downed their closest rivals with a 27-point win at Lauderdale Oval on Saturday that brought the good vibrations to Bomberland.
Glenorchy is now the dark horse of the top four, the Magpies’ win over Brighton boosting them to third, while North Hobart is fourth after ejecting Kingborough from the four with a powerful six-goal win at North Hobart Oval.
“It was really season-defining for us,” said Demons coach Adam Bester.
“The game will have a huge bearing on the ladder at the end of the season.
“I’m really proud of the boys who came in, really proud of our leadership group, and really proud of the guys who really bought into what we’ve been doing over the past couple of weeks.
“To get the victory really helps to set us up for the back end of the year.”
At Lauderdale, it was the Sam Siggins show as the rangy forward plied his trade in the ruck in the absence of suspended ruckman teammate Andrew Phillips and injured back-up ruckman Noah Holmes (calf).
“’Siggo’ really stood up for us, he rucked all day and was phenomenal,” said Lauderdale coach Brent Dolliver.
“I’m super-proud of the boys _ they’ve done the work on the track and it was a good win in the end.”
Clarence coach Grant Fagan was frustrated by the wayward kicking of his forwards, who missed some sitters, which ultimately cost the Roos their chance to steal a tough contest.
On top of that, up-and-comer Max Geappen was helped from the field late with what appeared to be a serious knee injury.
Lauderdale jumped Clarence in the opening term to lead 37-12 at the first change, and then the Roos turned the game on its head.
They dominated the second quarter and despite that, half-way through they had posted only six behinds plus another shot out on the full, which hurt when Lauderdale kicked three of the next four leading to the long break.
Goals to Max Mapley and Ollie Preshaw early in the third allowed Clarence to cut the half-time margin to 17 points but Cam Hooker, who was leading goal-kicker on the day with three, and Tom Ratcliffe made sure the home side maintained its lead going into the last.
“It was a tough day and we knew it would be,” Dolliver said.
“Clarence are a very good side.
“They’ve got some very good leaders and some good kids.
“They got on top of us in the midfield for a while but our mids clawed it back and if either team had taken their opportunities the game could have gone either way.”
The SFL Premier League has a full-round bye next weekend for the Tasmania Devils Senior Talent Academy men’s and women’s games against Queensland at Latrobe Recreation Ground on Saturday.
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