Lauderdale secure first win of 2023 as North Launceston keep undefeated run intact
Two of the TSL’s top premiership fancies secured big wins in round three. See the wrap.
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Lauderdale’s season is well and truly back on track with the injury-depleted Bombers securing its first win of 2024 over an equally less than full strength Glenorchy at KGV on Saturday.
After being tipped by many to be a premiership favourite this season, the Bombers finally produced a winning display in the big 17.13 (115) to 4.3 (27) win after two close losses to start the season against Clarence and North Launceston.
Bombers key forward Cam Hooker (six goals) was the star of the show alongside Andrew Phillips (five goals) with the latter spending the majority of the game inside 50 in an entertaining duel with Magpies skipper Harrison Gunther.
A 14-goal to one first-half was the difference in the win with the Bombers making Glenorchy pay on the turnover game and controlling play through the middle of the ground.
Skipper Nat Franklin was strong inside after missing last week with illness while Haydn Smith controlled the ruck for the victors.
Despite securing its first win in over 1000 days last week, Glenorchy looked a different side against the Bombers with the Magpies missing coach Josh Arnold (late omission), Daniel Joseph (unavailable), Blake Waight (injured) and Cameron Duffy (unavailable) on Saturday.
It was an ultra-impressive win for Lauderdale who are still without coach Allen Christensen, Sam Siggins, Josh McGuinness, Michael Blackburn, Jordan Lane and Bryce Walsh.
Both Christensen and McGuinness made successful returns in the development league on Saturday.
At UTAS Stadium, it was North Launceston that kept its undefeated start to 2024 intact with its third straight win over North Hobart placing pressure on the winless Demons heading into the bye.
It was all the Bombers on the wide expanses of UTAS with new coach Adrian Smith continuing his unblemished record as coach thanks to a dominating second half display in the 17.17 (119) to 4.8 (32) win.
After taking a 32-point lead into the main break, Smith’s side slammed on nine goals in the second-half with the visitors relegated to a single major late in the last quarter in a dismal display.
Alex Lee’s hit out dominance – 53-27 – was key in the victory while Declan Chugg (three goals), Brad Cox-Goodyer (two), Tony Aganas (two), Jack Aherne (two) and Sam Simpson (two) all finished with multiple majors as the Bombers dominated the inside 50 count – 61-35.
Forward-turned-defender Theo Ives continued his strong start to the season with the young tall relishing his change in role to start 2024 under Smith.
“It’s a nice change and I’ve taken away some real positives from today and the last two weeks,” Ives said.
“I think our game plan is very aggressive and allows me to still get up the ground when I can. I’m probably more a natural defender more than an attacking (forward) but I just appreciate being able to use my size as an advantage.
“I think the spread (of goals) also goes to show how much work we’ve put in over the pre-season and how we work together as a unit.”
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