North Launceston secured a hard-earned victory over crosstown rivals Launceston at UTas Stadium on Friday night.

Wearing one of the worst jumpers in living memory – red numbers on a red back – the Northern Bombers won a match that ebbed and flowed 12.13 (85) to 9.10 (64).

Frantic football was played out in slippery but calm conditions, with Launceston failing to capitalise on 15 to nine inside-50 entries in the opening term.

North goalkicker Zach Burt converted a free kick 40 metres out directly in front before teammate Jack Avent followed it up to give the hosts a quick start.

After kicking 7.7 last week, Rulla Kelly-Mansell sunk the Blues’ first during the 20-minute mark and two minutes later Sam Rundle nudged one through from top of the square, capping off some crafty work from Sonny Whiting to keep Launceston within two points of North at quarter-time.

Northern Bombers big man Bart McCulloch kicked two in as many minutes to start the second stanza in a battle with Blues defender Simon Vandervelde.

Whiting goaled after a brilliant pass from Ben Killalea, only for Mark Walsh and Tom Couch to chip in with a couple in quick succession to extend the margin to 20 points at the 15-minute mark.

However, Launceston rallied with three brilliant goals from Whiting, Brendan Taylor and Jack Donnellan to trail by just a solitary point at the long break. 

The third term belonged to North, scoring 4.4 to the Blues’ one-straight goal.

The joint ladder leaders’ midfielders stood tall, especially Brad Cox-Goodyer, who kicked two goals in the first five minutes to stamp the Bombers’ authority on the match, as Couch and Burt both slotted through their second each.

North controlled play round the ground with Rundle sending Launceston into three-quarter down 10.10 (70) to 7.5 (47).

This year’s Lefroy Medalist Jay Lockhart sat out the final term with a knee injury as both teams added two goals in the dying minutes.

Lewis Hollmer and McCulloch’s third pushed North’s advantage out beyond five goals, only for Blues coach Sam Lonergan to add the final two majors to his name to reduce the final margin.

It was a vast improvement from Launceston, who in the corresponding fixture lost by 85 points at Windsor Park on Good Friday.

McCulloch finished with 3.3 while Couch, Burt and Cox-Goodyer registered two apiece for North, as did Whiting, Lonergan and Rundle for Launceston.

“Sam is a very good coach and they set up well around the footy, so we had to adjust a few things at quarter-time to try and get the game on our terms,” Couch said post match.

“We asked for a lift out of the middle and the boys gave that and I thought the backline was excellent, with Jock White playing his best game for the club and Tyran Mansell – he’s going to be a helluva player.

“Hollmer was brilliant and Cox-Goodyer stood up when the game was on the line at the start of the third.”

Alex Lee also had a field day in the ruck, as Arion Richter-Salter and Kailem Baker held true.

North now boast a 9-2 record after ending Launceston’s three-game winning streak to a 7-4 win-loss ratio.

“It was finals intensity… the more exposure we get to that type of footy the more we learn and develop as a team,” Lonergan said.

“It’s disappointing to lose but there has been massive stages of development for our group and I think we showed that tonight.

“There were stages of the game we dictated and made North guess a little bit.” 

Brodie Palfreyman again starred for the Blues along with role player Corey Sheppard, Chris Savage, Jake Smith, Ryan Tyrrell and Vandervelde.

Jay Blackberry finished with four behinds running through the midfield.