MINOR premiers North Launceston looked infallible at times as it dismantled Burnie by 142 points at UTAS Stadium on Saturday.
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North Launceston kept the Dockers to their lowest ever State League score, winning its eighth-straight match 23.22 (160) to 2.6 (18).
North’s fast, slick ball movement off half-back, toughness at the contest and ability to take marks inside forward 50 was evident from the beginning and too classy for a Burnie side that featured seven 16-year-olds.
From the very first bounce Tom Couch’s charges looked like a side building towards a fourth-consecutive grand final with youngster Ben Simpson getting the ball rolling early on after a couple of missed opportunities from a dangerous, but wayward, Tom Bennett who followed suit with a couple soon after.
Recovering skipper Taylor Whitford crept forward from the wing to trouble the goal umpire as did Brad-Cox-Goodyer, Kailem Baker and Bart McCulloch to give the hosts a 7.5 (47) to 0.0 (0) quarter-time advantage.
After not looking likely, Burnie’s endeavour noticeably increased in the second term despite Bennett booting his third and Tarryn Thomas converting early on.
The Dockers’ only first-half score came via a rushed behind at the stanza’s eighth minute-mark before Whitford sent North into half-time with a 71-point stronghold.
Cox-Goodyer was at his brutal best with 4.2 in the premiership quarter, while Josh Ponting kicked a couple as North stretched its lead to 111 points with 7.6 to 1.2 in the third.
Harry Walters became the first Burnie player to register a score with a behind in the 21st minute of the penultimate quarter, which was followed shortly after with a goal from Rudy Barrett six minutes later.
The final term delivered much of the same as Couch slotted a couple and McCulloch, Simpson and Lewis Hollmer all doubled up to seal the deal.
Cox-Goodyer was clearly the Northern Bombers’ best with Bennett, Mark Walsh, Ponting, Jay Foon, Baker and Tarryn Thomas all showing their wares heading into Launceston at Windsor Park next week and a home second semi-final in three week’s time.
Burnie’s Ethan Jackson was rewarded with a major late in the fourth quarter, while captain Nick McKenna, Barrett and Walters also fought hard all day.
North assistant coach Adrian Smith shrugged of injury concerns for Jake Pearce (cork) and Bennett (Achilles) who played little part in the final term. “Our effort, the way we like to move the footy, our intensity around the ball and our ability to get first option is the most pleasing thing,” Smith said.
Suspended Dockers vice-captain Tyrone Morrison said his teammates’ indecision and inability to hit targets by foot cost them dearly.
Docker Brad Rubock was reported for a rough hit on Walsh in the dying minutes, which will give the match review panel something to think about. Burnie’s previous lowest score was 3.9 (27) back in 2010.
MATCH RESULT
North Launceston 7.5, 10.12, 17.18, 23.22 (160)
Burnie Dockers 0.0, 0.1, 1.3, 2.6 (18)
GOALS, North Launceston: B. Cox-Goodyer 5, J. Ponting 3, T. Bennett 3, L. Hollmer 2, B. Simpson 2, B. McCulloch 2, T. Couch 2, T. Whitford 2, K. Baker 1, T. Thomas 1. Burnie: E. Jackson 1, R. Barrett 1
BEST, North Launceston: B. Cox-Goodyer, J. Ponting, T. Bennett, M. Walsh, J. Foon, T. Thomas. Burnie: N. McKenna, R. Barrett, B. Keiselis, E. Jackson, H. Walters, B. Rubock.