TSL: Bombers Chugg to victory as Thorp addresses doubters

Playing just his sixth senior game, the St Patrick's College student held his nerve to restore North's seven-point lead after Blue Jake Smith had kicked the first goal of the last term.

An even bigger moment came five minutes later when he marked just inside the 50m arc, went back and coolly slotted the match-winner.

RELATED: Bombers victorious in another Northern classic

"Declen was phenomenal, we were really pleased with his game," North coach Brad Cox-Goodyer said.

"He's a tough little bugger and he'll do anything you ask him because he bleeds red and black.

"His family's been here their whole lives and it's just great to have another young fella coming through like that.

"Goalkicking's been a bit of an issue with him and for him to go back and slot one from 50 when not many people had faith in him was really positive and he was super pumped."

The 15-point result marked Launceston's first loss of the season, and their first since round 10 last year.

Blues coach Mitch Thorp said the bye had come at a good time for his side, and praised ruckman Joe Groenewegen for battling through the game with a broken hand.

"To their credit they never went away and the longer the game went the more they looked a winner," Thorp said.

"We tried to hang in there - we were a bit knocked around, we had some sore boys but North Launny for the most part were far stronger around the ball, balanced up in front of the ball better than we did and made the most of their opportunities."

MORE FOOTY: NTFA Division one finals favourites face off

St Pats, Prospect Hawks align: women's team on the table

TSL: North, Launceston fight for 'two-team town'

Thorp said the standard of Friday's game alone made a case for the TSL to continue beyond its current licence date of 2023.

"Anyone that thinks there's no place for TSL footy should have come and watched [Friday's] game.

"There's a very strong rivalry between the playing groups, the supporter groups and the coaching groups."