It may have rained for over half of the match but spectators at Saturday's Tasmanian State League grand final were undeterred.
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The passion, the flavour and most importantly, the potent Northern rivalry were all on show as Launceston defeated North Launceston by 13 points to claim the 2020 premiership.
A week ago, Launceston coach Mitch Thorp described the rivalry as the most traditional in Tasmanian football, saying "you're either one side of the river or the other".
That statement was certainly evident both on and off the field in the first Blues and Bombers grand final since 1985 as fans from the two sides clamoured at either end of the ground.
TSL FINALS FEVER
Launceston development league captain Jack Colgrave, who tasted a premiership victory earlier in the day, said the overwhelming showing of support given to the seniors side is what makes clubs great.
"Last weekend in under-18s, the seniors came down and got around the 18s and got them over the line thanks to a clutch Cooper Anthes goal and now for us to repay the favour, it's pivotal," Mr Colgrave said at half-time.
"Obviously North Launceston have been on top for the past four or five years and for us to win the D-league and hopefully win the seniors, it's a massive privilege."
At the other end of the ground, fellow development league combatant Jacob Kerr was one of many keen Bombers supporters relishing the all-Northern affair.
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While his side were unable to claim their fourth consecutive flag, Mr Kerr described the relationship between the cross-town rivals as "love and hate".
"It's always a very hot and intense game but it just comes down to whoever is the hardest - they always bring 100 per cent against us and we always bring 100 per cent against them," he said.
'Every year that the grand final comes around, we always enjoy it.
"We [the development league side] obviously won last year and lost the year before but the seniors are always there so we always get around them and have a big day for them."
The Blues victory was played in front of the largest State League crowd for the season, with 25 per cent of the UTAS Stadium seats available for seating.