Lowest winning score in statewide match since World War II takes no gloss off Roos triumph
In just his third TSL senior game, and first in three weeks after injury, Luke Swinton showed nerves of steel to lift Clarence to a stunning upset over ladder leaders Launceston.
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IT wasn’t a goal after the siren but Saturday’s major in the final minute was the next best thing for Luke Swinton after he propelled Clarence to a famous TSL victory.
Taking on unbeaten ladder leaders Launceston in the slop at Windsor Park, and coming off their own beating from the Tigers, the Roos were given little chance against the Blues on their home turf.
But after trailing all match it was Swinton’s goal — one of just three on a boggy day — from 35m in the final 30 seconds which sank the hosts.
Clarence celebrated its second victory of 2020 despite its 2.5 total being the lowest winning score for statewide football since before World War II.
It also takes the record as the lowest number of goals kicked to win a statewide game, surpassing North Launceston’s 4.4 (28) against New Norfolk in 1992.
The combined 33 points is also believed to be the lowest aggregate in a statewide league match in over a century.
“I was pretty nervous, I still thought there was a couple of minutes left on the clock as the scoreboard was only showing 19 minutes gone,” Swinton said of his match winning kick.
“But I just went back and backed my routine and it went through.”
EVERY KICK, EVERY PLAYER, EVERY GAME: SEE THE FULL ROUND 6 STATS
• Glenorchy versus North Hobart
• North Launceston versus Tigers
The contest was just the 20-year-old’s third at TSL senior level, and was also his first since returning from a two-game absence because of a corked quad.
A 2018 SFL premiership player with Lindisfarne, Swinton travelled through Europe last year before returning to the Roos and believes the stunning upset could be the starting point for a young squad looking to find its feet.
“We will get a lot of confidence from not just the win but the performance as well, to know when we play the right way we can match it with anyone in the competition.
“There was a great feeling in the rooms after the game, hopefully we can build on this.”
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