The Blues had been the surprise packets from the opening ball last month after three straight wins.

But Tom Garwood’s men crumbled under the pressure of a challenging run chase at the NTCA Ground.

“We just didn’t bring our brand of cricket today,” Garwood said.

“We sort of went away from things we have been doing well in the game.

“To Launnie’s credit, they played really well.”

The Lions took the form skipper’s wicket cheaply for just 12 off 17 balls and the visitors were forced to find another way to chase down the 177 for victory.

Riverside lost keeper Pete New for seven to a run out and then the panic set in.

The Blues lost 4-4 from New’s wicket to be way off the pace at 5-31.

“You’re not going to win many games doing that,” Garwood said.

“Definitely the pressure got to them and we just went away from batting time. We went away from playing the way we want to play.”

Coach Alistair Taylor was surprised by the result.

The Greater Northern Raiders captain saw more than 650 runs in two days at Riverside’s Windsor Park, but that was a world away on the other side of the Tamar.

He expected the Lions to be sorely tested.

“It was a really good win indeed,” Taylor said.

“I think going into it, it was built up as a very even game between both sides.

“We’ve had a very good rivalry the last few years.

“It’s usually always pretty close games between us.”

James Simpson fought hard for 23 but very few others did. The Blues were bundled out for just 84.

“I think what was best that no one went over two-and-a-half an over,” Taylor said.

“Obviously you get Tom Garwood out early, nick him off which is really good.”

Launceston were bowled out in the 50th over for 176.

Ben Humphrey played a brilliant mainstay role in the middle of the order to notch up 61 off 102 balls.

Captain Cam Lynch was the only teammate to reach 25 on a batting difficult day.

Cooper Anthes starred with the ball, picking up 5-34 to restrict the Lions beyond a par score.

It was Launceston’s third win in succession after a loss in the season opener.

SOUTH LAUNCESTON’s attack did kamikaze job on a stunned Mowbray at the NTCA No.2 Ground.

Defending only 146, the Knights rolled through the visitors’ batsmen with ease.

Opening seamer Graham Donaldson proved to be the standout with 7-29.

He picked up three clean-bowled and two leg before decisions. Mowbray were bundled out for a paltry 65.

South Launceston captain Tom Waller could not speak more highly of Donaldson.

“There was three or four genuine just back-through-the-gate balls,” Waller said.

“I can’t really fault him.

“He was definitely on today, which is great as we really needed him to be.”

The clinical 82-run win was the Knights’ first.

Waller said the result took a burden off the side’s shoulders.

“Winning can become a bit of a habit if you can get on a bit of a roll,” he said.

“Hopefully now we’ve got that first win under our belt now, we can get rolling into the season and be there at the business end.”

Greater Northern Raiders batter Jono Marsden had set up the win with a fine 79.

He came into bat at 1-1 and after the Knights lost a second wicket in Ben Spinks’s second over. Spinks finished the day with 3-18.

Eagles captain Luke Scott could not hide his disbelief.

“It was probably just a bit of lack of value on our wickets,” he said.

“With some of the shots we played, we just didn’t knuckle down to the task.

“We lost something like 6-10 at one stage or something stupid like that.”

In North-West games of the Greater Northern Cup, DEVONPORT handed Wynyard a heavy 159-run loss.

The Orions showed the way with the bat to post 5-268 off their 50 overs.

Opener Tyler Bell top-scored with 83 and shared in a 110-run opening stand with Brent Lawler for 51.

Cody Brown smashed an unbeaten 42 from 33 balls and Anish Paraam 35 off 41.

Darcey Brazendale captured 3-21 in a tough day.

Wynyard was rolled for 109 after left-arm spinner Paraam snared 4-28.

Only Peter Fulton showed resistance, remaining unbeaten on 37.

BURNIE were rolled for 112 after Sheffield skipper Marc Simonds took 6-18.

The Hurricanes were in a steady position at 1-57 before losing 8-24 when Simonds wreaked havoc.

Sheffield always looked in control and despite the loss of three late for just five runs 15 short of the target, the Mountaineers went on to win by four wickets.