NORTH Launceston will defend their 2014 premiership against Glenorchy at Bellerive Oval next Saturday and chase back-to-back flags after defeating Burnie by 21 points in their State League preliminary final clash at Aurora Stadium on Saturday.

Burnie made the better start kicking four goals to two in the opening term with good ball use and defensive pressure to lead by 12 points at quarter-time but the Northern Bombers lifted their work rate in the second quarter.

Goals to Zach Burt, Ethan Petterwood and Allan O'Sign helped the Bombers turn the tide and get the game back on their terms with more outside run and productive work inside 50 to give them a three-point break at half-time.

North had more contributors and ramped up their tackling pressure in the third quarter and goals to Logan Reynolds, O'Sign, Will McBride and first-gamer Louis Venn helped them open up a 27-point advantage before two late goals to Andy Lee and Jason Laycock cut the deficit to 15 points at the last change and kept Burnie in the game.

The Bombers maintained a buffer in the final quarter and two more goals to the veteran O'Sign again opened up a 29-point lead mid-quarter before a final Burnie rally saw goals to Andy Lee and James Dowling but the Dockers were never going to bridge the gap and went down by 21 points.

O'Sign finished with four goals as North's most productive forward and only multiple goalkicker while the mercurial Romain Grenville was a standout for Burnie finishing with five goals.

North had plenty of good contributors, with none better than Ethan Petterwood, Daniel Roozendaal and Hayden Goss who played his role on Harry Walters. Logan Reynolds, Taylor Whitford and Mark Walsh also were strong all day.

"Our performance today was really pleasing and we had some really good players stand up and contribute at crucial times," Littlejohn said.

"We had 21 inside 50 tackles in the third quarter which was pretty amazing and shows the work rate of the group and everyone playing their role which is really important and we're big about that having 22 contributors and today we were close to having our 22.

"The game was being played the way we wanted it early and was pretty quick and we were pretty confident with it being played at a frenetic pace - we knew our fitness was good enough and that's how we wanted the game to be played.

"Our skill errors cost us early but the boys responded really well and listened when we changed a few things up and how we wanted to move the ball and got themselves into a grand final which was really pleasing."

Grenville was the Dockers best performer with Harry Walters, coach Clint Proctor and Rudy Barrett other contributors.

"I can't doubt the boys effort and endeavour and I'm proud of the way they went about it," Proctor said.

"I thought we turned the footy over too much by not going our way about it.

"I thought the last quarter was probably our best one when we had nothing to lose and we took the game on but it was too late," he said.

COACHES REACTIONS

NORTH (ZANE LITTLEJOHN) ‘‘WE sat down at the start of the year and set a long-term goal to be in another grand final and have a shot at defending our title and obviously we have done that but now we have to turn our focus and energy toward winning it now and Glenorchy are a formidable outfit.

‘‘We had some players stand up Hayden Goss, Louis Venn for his first game, Allan O’Sign, Brad Cox-Goodyer more than in previous weeks and getting on to the end of the footy because they are dangerous and kick goals and are matchwinners who break games open.

‘‘Alex Lee did well in the ruck especially in the third quarter and we were able to leave Rooza forward. ‘‘Hayden Goss came in this week to go to Harry Walters and I thought he did a phenomenal job – he is still only a boy and stood up like a man today. He is very disciplined and committed to helping his team win and he played his role exceptionally well.

‘‘Louis Venn had his first senior game and it shows the development of this footy club and what we are willing to do in a preliminary final and he deserved it and has been really good in the DL all year and provides a lot of energy up forward and a bit of an extrovert and he played his role really well.

‘‘Tom Bennett came to the club as a key forward and it’s not great news with his injury and doesn’t look positive and he will have scans straight away and find out what that is and it is a hard luck story.'' 

BURNIE (CLINTON PROCTOR) ‘‘WE finished sixth last year and third this year and while it is disappointing not to get a crack at the grand final I thought we have some serious improvement in our list even in some of the older boys.

‘‘We were able to get some quality games into Sam Newson, Kyle Harman, young John Holland had a good season so there are enough upsides to it.

‘‘You can never doubt the endeavour of the boys they always have a crack even when the chips are down. ‘‘We’ve been working hard behind the scenes and I’m pretty confident we will retain most of our list and hopefully improve on it.

‘‘I didn’t come here with a one year plan and I will be here for another two or three so we will look to improve next year and develop and tap into the NWFL with the relationship there that we now have with Wynyard and hopefully there is opportunity for Zac Smith and a few more to come on.’’

NORTH Launceston’s TSL development league season ended with a 24-point defeat to Glenorchy in their preliminary final clash at Aurora Stadium on Saturday. The Northern Bombers had hoped their home ground advantage would help them earnagrand final spot but trailed Glenorchy all day before going down 11.10 (76) to 7.10 (52). 

The Magpies led by 14 points at quarter time, extended it to 24 at the main break and maintained the buffer in the second half despite North’s efforts to bridge the gap. Jack Crossin kicked four goals for Glenorchy with two each to Ben Kamaric and Ashley Burgess. Scott Bennetts, John Geard, Michael Badcock and Crossin all played well for the Magpies along with Cameron Duffy and Kamaric.

Ben Elmer was North’s best goalkicker with three. Nathan McLachlan was the Bombers’ best and Isaac Thomas, Morgan Parker, Bryton Mullins, Chris Taylor and Jack Rowlands were in their best players. Glenorchy will meet Clarence in next Saturday’s development league grand final at Bellerive Oval.