TWO-TIME reigning grand finalists North Launceston and Glenorchy’s encounter at UTAS Stadium on Saturday certainly lived up to expectations.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Magpies led for three quarters before injuries to key personnel saw the ladder-leading Northern Bombers run over the top to secure a 9.9 (64) to 8.12 (60) triumph. Pies captain Brayden Webb and Brady Quinn failed to play any part in the match after half time, while three-time Alastair Lynch Medallist Jaye Bowden and Zac Webster were not 100 per cent and it eventually took its toll.
To begin, Glenorchy veteran Ben Reynolds squandered several early shots before John Geard broke through with the opening major six minutes into the match.
Bomber Lewis Hollmer snared North’s first followed by acting captain Brad Cox-Goodyer’s 24th goal of the season to put the hosts in front. The defending champions replied with Michael Rainbird, James Webb and Bowden getting on the end of some clean, fast play driven by Rhys Mott to give the Pies a 4.5 (29) to 2.3 (15) quarter-time lead.
It was a congested start to the second stanza and it took Mariner Harrison Pearce 10 minutes to extended the visitors’ advantage to 20 points, however, from there it was all North under the tutelage of stand-in coach and injured skipper Taylor Whitford.
Callum Harrison started a run of three consecutive goals as Cox-Goodyer and Jake Pearce started to get busy. A lively Josh Ponting scored from outside 50 and Bart McCulloch clunked 15 metres out and did not disappoint as North went into the main break trailing by just two points.
Glenorchy were wasteful in the third term with six behinds to start before Bowden booted his second at the 13-minute mark with a dead-straight set shot. Aaron Cornelius’ men controlled play but North rallied to gain the ascendancy with Zach Burt banging one home on the cusp of the final change.
Tarryn Thomas, who started off half back, was threatening for the Bombers late and kicked a brilliant goal to give them the lead. Burt and McCulloch made it two apiece to push North 15-points clear before Bowden slotted number three and Josh Watts got the Pies back to within four points before full time.
Cox-Goodyer was the standout player in victory along with Ponting, Jack Avent and Pearce, while Mott, Matthew Dilger and Liam Smith toiled hard for the now fourth-placed Magpies.
“It was finals-like intensity… (and) that third quarter, we knew that if we stayed with them and hung on that we could come home strong,” Whitford said.
“Cox-Goodyer has been good over the last three weeks and he stood up again today around the contest… and Punter has been exceptional this last month stepping into the midfield.”
Cornelius said he was disappointed in the result but proud of the way his wounded charges fought.
“They’re the top side, we’ve travelled up the road and we were down a couple of rotations, a couple of guys were firing on all cylinders and we’ve only gone down by four points,” he said.
MATCH DETAILS
North Launceston 2.3, 5.4, 6.6, 9.10 (64)
Glenorchy 4.5, 5.6, 6.12, 8.12 (60)
GOALS, North Launceston: B. McCulloch 2, Z. Burt 2, C. Harrison 1, T. Thomas 1, L. Hollmer 1, B. Cox-Goodyer 1, J. Ponting 1. Glenorchy: J. Bowden 3, J. Webb 1, J. Geard 1, H. Pearce 1, J. Watts 1, M. Hills 1
BEST, North Launceston: B. Cox-Goodyer, J. Ponting, J. Avent, T. Mansell, T. Bennett, T. Thomas. Glenorchy: M. Dilger, L. Smith, J. Bowden, B. Reynolds, J. Arnold, J. Arnold