Inaccurate Bombers overcome slow start to take out Good Friday clash

Written by Tom Waller.

An inaccurate North Launceston has continued its recent dominance over Launceston to run out 32 point winners on Good Friday.

A strong crowd turned out at Windsor Park, to see North Launceston overcome a slow start to push away and prove that they will again be a team to beat this season.

Arion Richter-Salter was the pick of the North Launceston players for the day proving to be both a reliable and attacking option down back, whilst also taking an early contender for mark of the year.

Launceston held the upper hand in the first quarter leading by 9 points at the first change with the bombers kept goalless.

The Bombers flicked the switch in the second quarter with a nice Ben Simpson snap to start kicking off a quarter where nearly all of the play appeared to be in the Bombers’ forward 50.

North Launceston kicked 5.8 to 1.1 for the term to make the Launceston defence feel constantly under the pump.

The second half was a bit more of an even contest, but the Bombers were never headed with a clutch 50m Brad Cox-Goodyer goal on the three quarter time siren stopping any sort of momentum that the Blues had going into the last change.

Jack Rushton showed what the Blues were missing after jumping ship this season to kick two opportunistic goals to start the last term to help the Bombers run out eventual 32 point winners.

Whilst disappointed with his sides inaccuracy, coach Taylor Whitford was pleased that his side was able to get 32 scoring shots for the game, especially after only having 22 in their last encounter against Clarence.

“We had 32 scoring shots, that was something we looked at post Clarence and we tried a few different things at training to see if we could improve that, it looked better this week but we still need to kick straight especially when we play the top teams like Lauderdale and Glenorchy,” he said.

Injured Launceston captain Jay Blackberry was pleased that his side didn’t give up, but was disappointed with his sides 2^nd quarter where they collectively dropped off as a group.

“It was a battle for us today, 32 points probably flattered us a bit, the second quarter was the difference in the game we dropped off everything we wanted to do and we were probably lucky not to be 10 goals down”

Jobi Harper was the pick of the Launceston players kicking three goals whilst also having plenty of possessions in the middle, Fletcher Seymour also toiled hard for the Blues.

?? Launceston Football Club 9.6 (60)

 Goals: J. Harper 3, J. Gillow 2, A. Wright 2, J. Boyd, M. Thorp

?⚫️ North Launceston Football Club 12.20 (92)

 Goals: D. Bannister 4, B. Elmer 2, J. Rushton 2, T. Whitford 2, B. Cox-Goodyer, B. Simpson