THE experience and class of Clarence shone out in the second half of their State League clash against North Launceston at Aurora Stadium last night as the Roos recorded a 35-point victory to remain the only undefeated team in the competition after three rounds.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The young Northern Bombers took the game up to their traditional rival in the first half to lead by four points at quarter time and 11 points at the main break.
Goals to skipper Mitchell Van Den Berg and Zach Burt early in the third saw them extend the lead to 18 points mid-way through the term.
But the cream rose to the top when it mattered as the Roos broke the shackles and banged on the next five unanswered goals, in a six-goal third quarter, to wrest control of the contest and lead by 13 points at the last change.
With their tails up, the dual TSL premiers then went on with the job in the final quarter kicking five goals to one to run out comfortable winners 14.14 (98) to 9.9 (63).
James Charlesworth proved dangerous again up forward for the Roos kicking six goals and missed another four or five to be the standout forward of the game with Van Den Berg North's only multiple goalkicker with two.
North Launceston coach Zane Littlejohn said his side was beaten by a team of men and his inexperienced players failed to respond to the pressure when the question was asked of them in the second half.
The Roos were able to dominate the clearances and win more of the contested ball after half-time as some of their prime movers such as Jeromey Webberley, Brady Jones, Jake Cox and Charlesworth lifted when needed.
``We probably haven't had that pressure put on us to that degree yet and when the game was in the balance we got smashed inside and failed to win the contested footy and that hurt us,'' Littlejohn said.
``We didn't have anyone to really grab the game then and say, `hang on I'm not letting this happen'.
``Once we let Clarence get up and going they are very hard to stop and we knew that.
``I thought we did it well in the first half but then we just let them get their hands on the footy and get a run on and away they went.''
The Bombers skills and decision-making at times was questionable and turn-overs hurt them during the game.
``That's one of the things we spoke about and Clarence set up well and when you turn the footy over that's when they hurt you,'' Littlejohn said.
``We spoke about the importance of winning on the inside _ which we didn't.
``And about making sure we didn't have turnovers _ which we didn't _ and that's sort of where the game is won and lost against Clarence.''
Jake Cox was the catalyst who got the Roos going in the third term moving into the middle from a wing and was best on ground, in a close tussle with Charlesworth.
Andrew and Brad Cox-Goodyer were North's best contributors with Taylor Whitford, Tom Loone and Jay Lockhart also playing well.
Bombers marque recruit Chris Tarrant failed to take the field for North after he tweaked a calf muscle against Launceston last week and failed to come up.