David Harding
TSL Finals Week 1 Review
August 23rd 2010 02:20
Sourced: AFL Tasmania (via email.)
AFTER a month’s wait, the TSL finally got the much anticipated Clarence-Launceston rematch, this time in the first qualifying final.
But unlike last time, this contest would be at Bellerive, the Roos home fortress where they have not been beaten since the rebirth of the state league.
And Clarence was back to full strength, with a number of stars returning to the team that was convincingly beaten by the Blues back in round 15.
Keen to put the challenger back in its place, Clarence dominated the first half and if it was not for some terribly inaccurate kicking for goal, the game would have been well and truly over at the long break.
The Roos had 19 scoring shots to six in the first half but led by just 33 points.
This half time lead was cut back to just three points within 10 minutes of the second half as Launceston showed for the first time this game it could match the Roos, booting five quick goals.
But stung into action, Clarence responded as a hot premiership favourite should, ramming on six of the final seven goals to coast to a 32-point win – the Roos 23rd straight win at home.
Cameron Thurley was his usual dominant self with 33 touches, but was unusually wasteful in front of the goals with five behinds.
Expectant AFL draftee had 28 touches, Ben Setchell was also had almost 30 possessions while Aaron French had 25 and kicked three goals.
Small forward Trent Standen and Jaymes Baker both kicked three, while Michael Sinclair booted three for the Blues.
Launceston’s Hudson Medallist Brian Finch was held to two goals by Gregg Sharman, and Clarence tagger Clint Riley did a similar job nullifying Blues captain and key onballer Scott Stephens.
Clarence can enjoy the week off, while Launceston has the chance to redeem itself against Devonport after the Northern Magpies smashed Glenorchy under lights at the Devonport Oval.
Glenorchy, playing in its green clash jumper, never looked itself as it was held goalless in the opening quarter while Devonport booted four goals straight to 0.4.
The third quarter was just as dominant as Devonport kicked five goals to one on the way to a big 50-point win.
While Ben Reynolds was held goalless, big Rhys Colbeck kicked three and Rhys Mott, Brad Symmons and Chris McDonald threaded two apiece.
But the most bizarre game of the weekend was at Sunday at North Hobart Oval in the elimination final between North Hobart and North Launceston.
Playing in its first TSL final, North Launceston looked anything but over-awed dominating the first quarter and the start of the second.
The Northern Bombers smashed the Demons in every department, and raced out to a 42-point lead.
The Demons had just one goal to its name, while Bombers Kristen Higgs booted three goals from seven scoring shots in the first half.
North Hobart was able to get back into the game through Ken Hall’s work at the stoppages and across half-forward as the Demons kicked the last four goals of the half to be amazingly only 15-points down.
Now momentum was completely with the home side and it was the Northern Bombers holding on for dear life.
The Demons had targets up forward in Paul Allison (five goals) and Caden Wilson (three) and with Hall and Greater Western Sydney recruit Sam Darley dominating around the ground, it seemed only a matter of time before North Hobart hit the lead.
It was young forward Troy Cunliffe who put the Demons in front with a clever snap from a roved marking contest, and all of a sudden after leading by seven goals, the Northern Bombers found themselves three points down at the last change.
Not even the opening goal to the Northern Bombers captain Shane Wager could stop the Demons, as North Hobart surged to an eight-point win.
The devastating loss ended North Launceston’s season, while North Hobart will take on Glenorchy in the second elimination final next week.
AFTER a month’s wait, the TSL finally got the much anticipated Clarence-Launceston rematch, this time in the first qualifying final.
But unlike last time, this contest would be at Bellerive, the Roos home fortress where they have not been beaten since the rebirth of the state league.
And Clarence was back to full strength, with a number of stars returning to the team that was convincingly beaten by the Blues back in round 15.
Keen to put the challenger back in its place, Clarence dominated the first half and if it was not for some terribly inaccurate kicking for goal, the game would have been well and truly over at the long break.
The Roos had 19 scoring shots to six in the first half but led by just 33 points.
This half time lead was cut back to just three points within 10 minutes of the second half as Launceston showed for the first time this game it could match the Roos, booting five quick goals.
But stung into action, Clarence responded as a hot premiership favourite should, ramming on six of the final seven goals to coast to a 32-point win – the Roos 23rd straight win at home.
Cameron Thurley was his usual dominant self with 33 touches, but was unusually wasteful in front of the goals with five behinds.
Expectant AFL draftee had 28 touches, Ben Setchell was also had almost 30 possessions while Aaron French had 25 and kicked three goals.
Small forward Trent Standen and Jaymes Baker both kicked three, while Michael Sinclair booted three for the Blues.
Launceston’s Hudson Medallist Brian Finch was held to two goals by Gregg Sharman, and Clarence tagger Clint Riley did a similar job nullifying Blues captain and key onballer Scott Stephens.
Clarence can enjoy the week off, while Launceston has the chance to redeem itself against Devonport after the Northern Magpies smashed Glenorchy under lights at the Devonport Oval.
Glenorchy, playing in its green clash jumper, never looked itself as it was held goalless in the opening quarter while Devonport booted four goals straight to 0.4.
The third quarter was just as dominant as Devonport kicked five goals to one on the way to a big 50-point win.
While Ben Reynolds was held goalless, big Rhys Colbeck kicked three and Rhys Mott, Brad Symmons and Chris McDonald threaded two apiece.
But the most bizarre game of the weekend was at Sunday at North Hobart Oval in the elimination final between North Hobart and North Launceston.
Playing in its first TSL final, North Launceston looked anything but over-awed dominating the first quarter and the start of the second.
The Northern Bombers smashed the Demons in every department, and raced out to a 42-point lead.
The Demons had just one goal to its name, while Bombers Kristen Higgs booted three goals from seven scoring shots in the first half.
North Hobart was able to get back into the game through Ken Hall’s work at the stoppages and across half-forward as the Demons kicked the last four goals of the half to be amazingly only 15-points down.
Now momentum was completely with the home side and it was the Northern Bombers holding on for dear life.
The Demons had targets up forward in Paul Allison (five goals) and Caden Wilson (three) and with Hall and Greater Western Sydney recruit Sam Darley dominating around the ground, it seemed only a matter of time before North Hobart hit the lead.
It was young forward Troy Cunliffe who put the Demons in front with a clever snap from a roved marking contest, and all of a sudden after leading by seven goals, the Northern Bombers found themselves three points down at the last change.
Not even the opening goal to the Northern Bombers captain Shane Wager could stop the Demons, as North Hobart surged to an eight-point win.
The devastating loss ended North Launceston’s season, while North Hobart will take on Glenorchy in the second elimination final next week.
| 84 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog