Having been pictured together with the trophy earlier in the week, Launceston and Riverside's respective bearded captains have been doing their utmost to keep their hands on it.

Doubtless motivated by Alistair Taylor's opening-day century which put Launceston in the box seat, Tom Garwood hit back with his own defiant stand at the top of the order.

Garwood hit 84 off 132 deliveries on day two as the Blues wrapped up the Launceston tail before progressing to 5-186 at stumps.

Resuming at 7-279, the Lions could only add another five runs (four of which came from a Dan Smith boundary) as Riverside took just three overs to get their turn at the crease.

Lyndon Stubbs took two of the three wickets to fall to finish with the impressive figures of 5-44 off 24 overs able supported by Sam Lockett's 3-74.

The Blues looked in trouble when Jack Colgrave and Matt Kerrison went for single figures but Garwood and Cooper Anthes steadied the ship with a century third-wicket stand.

Having claimed the wickets of Launceston's top two scorers on Friday, Anthes proved just as valuable with the bat, keeping the scoreboard ticking over as his captain closed in on a century.

Wily all-rounder Ben Humphrey ruined that dream, trapping both Garwood and Patrick Mackrell in front in another major momentum shift which saw the Blues lose 2-0.

Anthes looked to steer his side out of trouble but moments after bringing up his half-century was caught by Cam Lynch off the bowling of Smith.

Ramesh Sundra (26 not out off 76) and Peter New (11 not out off 46) saw the Blues to stumps with just a two-figure deficit. The match concludes on Sunday.