Second quarter blitzkrieg from Launceston lifts club into first TSL grand final in eight years

Launceston has put three years of finals torment from Lauderdale behind it, crushing the Bombers at Windsor Park to set up an all-northern State League final next weekend.

• Lauderdale out to unlock Windsor Park web
• Launceston mulls over tall timber for semi-final

LAUNCESTON has unleashed its best quarter of the season at the perfect time to rocket into its first State League grand final since 2012.

The Blues disposed of their finals hoodoo against Lauderdale at Windsor Park with an emphatic 17.3 (105) to 9.3 (57) romp which sets up a mouth-watering cross-town decider against North Launceston.

Having been bounced out of the finals race by the southern Bombers in the past three years, the Blues were on a mission and had all but put the semi-final to bed by halftime courtesy of a second quarter blitzkrieg.

Launceston Football Club's Jay Blackberry curls a kick around Lauderdale players. Picture: PATRICK GEE

Launceston held the Bombers to a slender two point lead at the first change kicking into a stiff breeze, then rattled on 8.1 to zip with it in the second quarter in a stunning display.

The Blues smashed Lauderdale at the stoppages and continually pumped the ball forward, with the dam walls finally bursting.

A multi pronged attack of talls coach Mitch Thorp (three goals) and Joe Groenewegen (two) dominated the air, with fleet-footed but big-bodied smalls Jay Blackberry (three) and Dylan Riley and Jake Hinds (two each) mopping up the crumbs.

Lauderdale trimmed the margin back to 23 points at the final change after kicking the last four majors of the third stanza, but needing to take the game on against the wind the Bombers were opened up on the outside as the hosts cruised to victory.

“To the boys’ credit I don’t think I could have asked for much more,” Thorp said.

Launceston Football Club's Mitchell Thorp celebrates a goal against Lauderdale. Picture: PATRICK GEE

“The first quarter set us up, the breeze was maybe a bit stiffer than what it looked on the stream, it was probably a three to four goal win and to be only two points down at quarter time, we really thought we were in a strong position.

The second quarter was arguably out best quarter of the year. We just piled on the goals … 17.3, we have had our issues in front of goals this year but it was a complete performance across the board.”

Launceston’s last defeat came at the hands of Lauderdale at SkyBus Oval in round 10 — a 63-point rout Thorp said was the reset his side needed.

“They absolutely towelled us up in that area [contested ball] not too long ago down at Lauderdale, the response has been pretty stiff.

“That game was really a kick up the backside we needed.”

The Blues also emerged unscathed from the match as they now turn their attention to dethroning the most dominant force in Tasmanian football next Saturday.

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