Just three goals were scored on a soggy deck at Windsor Park as Clarence left it until the dying stages of the match to clinch a remarkable 2.5 (17) to 1.10 (16) win.

The result marked the Roos' lowest-ever State League total and the league's lowest-ever winning score and came after Launceston led for all but four minutes of the match.

RELATED: McCulloch, Avent star in Bombers win

Josh Ponting 2.0: Northern Bombers appoint Punter protege

Who's your TSL club's leading ball-winner?

Seeking to finish the first round of fixtures unbeaten, the home side made a bright start as Jay Blackberry kicked the Blues' first - and only - goal of the game two minutes into the first term.

The bundled snap was matched by a successful set shot from Chris Nield early in the third term, but a string of behinds established a seven-point Blues buffer heading into the last.

Clarence looked the more likely of the two sides in the last and at last got a chance 40m out from goal when Blackberry was called for kicking in danger at the 17-minute mark.

Clint Riley chipped the ball into 20-year-old Luke Swinton who calmly slotted the Roos' second goal to inflict one of the biggest upsets of the season to date.

"When he got the ball I was pretty confident, just because he's a winner," Clarence coach Jeromey Webberley said.

"He's won a grand final at Lindisfarne and ever since he's come to the club this pre-season he's worked his backside off to get where he is now.

"It was great for him to finish a game off for our club and a good one for him to feel really a part of it now."

Launceston coach Mitch Thorp remained upbeat after the game but couldn't explain its low-scoring nature.

"The conditions particularly in the second half were fine - no wind, no rain - but neither side could find a way to penetrate deep enough to score - it was just a bizarre day," he said.

"The game was played largely in our half - they got a lot of numbers behind the ball, they obviously had a plan to do that.

"Full credit to Clarence - football can sit you on your backside really quickly and that's what's happened to us today, we didn't play hard enough for long enough."

Captain Jobi Harper was relentless in defeat, gathering 30 touches including 18 contested, while Ryan Tyrrell and Jacob Boyd showed composure down back.

The Blues will have the coming weekend off with a bye before meeting North Launceston in a Wednesday night clash at UTAS Stadium.

ELSEWHERE IN SPORT

"Sometimes a loss can be educational and we can reset," Thorp said.

"We turn at the bye in a really strong position.

"We've seen the comp is really heating up - the other results today with Glenorchy beating North Hobart - there's some real interest in the comp, it's not just a lock of who's going to be top four."

The result catapulted Clarence into the top four and sets up a mouth-watering clash with North Hobart next weekend.

"We're really rapt with the win," Webberley said.

"Obviously with a few guys out of our starting 22 - the captain and a young star in Ollie Davis - we were coming up here back against the wall, best team in the comp, it's one of those ones you can really promote as a player and make sure you get a response out of your group.

"Last week we were diabolical for three quarters - probably one of the worst games I've see Clarence play in a couple of years - and today we got the result that we were dying for and it gets us back around where the eight-ball is."

Clarence 0.2, 0.3, 1.3, 2.5 (17)

Launceston 1.2, 1.5, 1.10, 1.10 (16)