CLARENCE has joined North Launceston atop of the ladder with a 17-point victory over its old State League foes at Bellerive Oval on Saturday.
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The Northern Bombers travelled South as the competition’s only undefeated side but were overcome by the Roos 16.7 (103) to 12.14 (86) in a brutal contest.
North coach Tom Couch booted three goals in the opening term, as a solitary point separated the two sides before Clarence began to gain the ascendancy.
Clarence slotted six-straight goals to the visitor’s 6.4 in the second term to trail by 15 points at the main break with the host’s defence squashing several fluffies forward from the Bombers.
The third quarter was played out in similar fashion with the Roos piling on a further 5.2 to an inaccurate North’s 3.4 to extend the buffer to six goals with a term to roll.
The Bombers continued to press and erased 20 points off the deficit with Jack Avent (two), Lewis Hollmer, Lockhart and Couch all sending ticking over the scoreboard.
However, coach Jeromey Webberley and Jarrod Harper helped Clarence steady with a final-term goal each.
Harper, Webberley, Michael Blackburn, Sam Siggins, Aiden Grace (two each) led 11 individual goal-kickers for the victors as midfielder Jackson O’Brien and defender Michael Fisher worked tirelessly around the ground.
Despite finishing with six goals as a deep forward himself, Couch said erroneous kicking for goal was one of several factors that cost his team dearly. “It was an education lesson for the boys today individually and as a team. It is about building towards the end of the year and even though the result isn’t what you’re after, I think it is going to help us in the long run,” he said.
“We were in control of the game, especially in the first half, and there were just a few instances that were put on to the boys – not good enough. We didn’t have 22 contributors.” North backman Jay Lockhart was again outstanding along with Jay Foon, Couch and Avent.