NORTH Launceston had a confidence and percentage-boosting win after downing the Tigers by 113 points in their State League clash at Aurora Stadium yesterday.
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While happy to get back on the winner's list following consecutive losses, coach Zane Littlejohn knows there is plenty of room for improvement as they prepare to face cross-town rivals Western Storm next week.
The Tigers kicked the first goal of the match, but the Bombers banged on the next six straight and nine in total for the opening quarter to lead by 41 points at quarter-time after dominating possessions and inside 50s.
North paid for inaccuracy and wasted opportunities in front of goal in the second managing 2.8 for the quarter, from 19 inside 50 entries _ extending its lead to 55 points at half-time.
The Bombers controlled the game in the second half banging on six goals to nil in the third term to blow out the lead to 99 points at the last change and added six goals to four in the final term, the Tigers best on the scoreboard, to run out easy winners 23.26 (164) to 8.3 (51).
Allan O'Sign was outstanding in a best-on-ground performance up forward, finishing with eight goals for the game as a livewire small forward.
Captain Mitch Van Den Berg booted five, with Damien Medwin and Brad Cox-Goodyer both finishing with two each.
Taylor Whitford was another of North's best players, along with Tom Loone and Jack Avent through the middle and Geoff Mohr and Lochlan Young in defence.
Having 49 scoring shots to 11 indicates the Bombers dominance of the contest, but the Tigers to their credit played an attacking, man-on-man style, instead of throwing numbers back defensively.
Littlejohn struggled to articulate positives from the performance after the game, but was happy with their effort overall.
``I challenged them at half-time and I thought their response after that was good _ 2.8 in the second quarter cost us a bit because good sides make the most of those opportunities and finish their work and we didn't do that, which was a bit disappointing,'' he said.
``We came to get the win _ the positive from it was I thought O'Sign was fantastic and the more time we can send him forward the better because he is very dangerous and his leadership today was fantastic.
``I guess another positive was that we got games into some our kids again and earlier in the year we didn't know if we would have to do that with our depth _ but to get the win with a few injuries and a few blokes out and a few down was really good.''
In measuring effort, he said having over 30 tackles was pleasing and 18 marks in space was pleasing, but they know against a quality opposition that effort has to go up another level.
``It was better than last week, but we have areas to improve on which is what you want at this time of year, you don't want to be flying now because you don't play finals footy now,'' he said.