The Northern Bombers overcame a goal-less first quarter to go on and outpace and out- hustle their more favoured Burnie opponents.

Burnie looked to have got its game away to a flying start, kicking 3.4 to 0.1 in the opening quarter when it was aided by a slight breeze to the Cooee end of West Park but the second quarter belonged entirely to the Northern Bombers as they put on eight goals, growing in confidence as the minutes rolled by after Allan O'Sign, Josh Ponting and William McBride kicked three goals in as many minutes to get the quarter under way.

Burnie under the new regime of co-coaches Luke Shackleton and Andrew Herring were rattled by North Launceston's pace and aggression and at half-time had slipped 22 points behind.

The Northern Bombers have worked very hard on their fitness over summer and growing in confidence they started to dominate across the centre and half forwards.

Burnie managed just two goals in the third quarter coming from Harry Walters and Brodie Knight late in the term and the scene was set for North Launceston to claim an overdue win at West Park after coming so close in the past year or two.

West Park is normally considered a fortress of the Burnie Dockers and it was not the start to the season they wished.

The team went into the game without experienced half-back Darren Banham but still had the majority of the team, which took it to last year's grand final against South Launceston.

Former Essendon ruckman Jason Laycock was dominant in the first half and former Penguin captain Chris McDonald showed he could quickly adapt to the State League environment kicking two goals in the opening quarter but Burnie's inability to match the Northern Bombers for the four quarters is the major concern for Shackleton and Herring after their coaching debut.