TSL: Launceston reels in five-goal deficit at Kingborough

Boasting a five-goal lead and all the ascendancy midway through the second term, the Tigers did little wrong thereafter but could not stop Fletcher Seymour and Cody Thorp almost single-handedly willing the Blues home.

After reducing the margin to 13 points at half time, the Blues kept Kingborough goalless in the second half to grind out a 9.10 (64) to 7.9 (51) victory.

Launceston coach Mitch Thorp praised his players for their resilience after Jay Blackberry (corkie) exited the game in the first term.

"We trailed at every break today ... for us to find a way to win says a lot about our fitness level," Thorp said.

"The boys were running over the top of the ground in the last quarter and the Tigers were quite fatigued, so we had a lot of shots on goal in the last quarter which was great.

"But it's so great for the competition to have a team like the Tigers - they're going to be a powerhouse for the next few years and they're just starting to see how strong they can be."

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Out to claim a Northern scalp for the first time this season, the Tigers made a dream start with Elijah Reardon kicking the game's first two goals and fellow electric small forward Luke Graham adding another pair before quarter time.

When the busy Will Campbell produced perhaps the goal of the game - a running conversion from 40m - the Tigers had the game's biggest lead and Launceston's biggest deficit of the season to date.

But the reigning premiers wouldn't be intimidated.

Second-gamer Liam Canny popped up with a smart soccered finish to spark a run of four goals in 10 minutes, including a delightful 40m snap from defender Alec Wright.

Scoring dried up in the third term but the Blues began to put their stamp on the contest.

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Seymour won the last term's opening clearance - one of 16 for the game - and Cody Thorp converted from a strong grab close to goal.

Minutes later the Blues took the lead for the first time when last week's hero Brayden Pitcher bobbed up from close range.

Kingborough remained in the contest until the younger Thorp added his second five minutes from time, breaking free of a stoppage and snapping truly.

The win puts the Blues two games clear at the top of the table with four matches to go before finals.

"We certainly haven't been in that position this year and full credit to the boys, they toiled away and it was a really gritty win," said coach Thorp, who played his first game since round 11.

"We didn't panic, we had some really strong individual performances but by and large it was the collective that worked really well together."

Thorp said Blackberry and skipper Jobi Harper would be ready to play when the Blues emerge from the bye for a round 18 clash with North Hobart.

KINGBOROUGH 4.2 7.5 7.9 7.9 (51)

LAUNCESTON 1.3 5.4 6.5 9.10 (64)

Dan Willing's Lauderdale made it two wins in a month with a thumping 20.10 (130) to 7.7 (49) victory over Glenorchy.

Kicking the opening five goals at home before the visitors reduced the margin to 15 points in the second term, Lauderdale blew the game apart with an eight-goal third term.

Ed Stanley and Tyler Martin both kicked three in the second half to finish with five and four respectively, while Luke Paton continued his good form from last week with a best-on ground effort.

The result keeps the Bombers in with a good chance of finishing fifth, and put an end to the Magpies' faint finals hopes.

Glenorchy's silver lining was Chris Howard, who starred in his first game for three months.