NTFA Premier League: Launceston fend off South in top-of-the-table clash at Youngtown.

Launceston have moved three games clear on top of the Premier League ladder after defeating South Launceston by 23-points in round nine at a cool Youngtown Oval. The Blues trailed by nine points at half-time but came out firing in the third term kicking seven goals to two to arrest momentum and eventually go on to win and remain unbeaten. Final scores - 10.14.74 to 7.9.51. Cody Thorp and Jess Bula both kicked two goals for the winners while for South Matthew Lee kicked a game-high three goals and Chaice Oliver kicked two.

South began well kicking to the northern end with two goals to Lee and another to Oliver while down back the likes of Seb Page and Kurt Hibbs stood tall keeping the Blues goalless for the term. Bula finally got the Blues on the board in the first minute of the second term with a fine snap from the flank in front of some rowdy home fans. Oliver goaled for the Bulldogs not long after to stretch the lead back out to sixteen points. Launceston peppered the goals for the next ten minutes but couldn’t find a major until Jayden Hinds marked and goaled in the nineteenth minute.

At the main break Blue’s Coach Jake Hinds encouraged his charges to take the game on and get the match back on their terms. They quickly went to work with Thorp marking strongly two minutes in and duly converted to fire the Blues up. When Bula goaled in the ninth minute the Blues were in front. They kicked five unanswered goals to lead by 22-points before Grant Holt pegged one back for the Bulldogs at the fourteen-minute-mark.

Launceston held a 22-point lead at the final change and Anthony Taylor’s Bulldogs had some work to do to get back into the match. The Blues had chances to put the game out of reach early into the last term but couldn’t find a goal until the fourteenth minute when skipper Brodie Palfreyman goaled to make the margin 32-points. Lee answered soon after with his third for the Dogs as the shadows lengthened over Youngtown. South didn’t stop trying however and continued to attack to the final siren.

Better players for the victors included Thorp and Bula who both lifted the Blues when needed with inspiring play, skipper Palfreyman and Seth Pfeiffer in defence helped contain the Bulldog’s attack. South Launceston looked good early but couldn’t stem the flow in the third quarter but the likes of Grant Holt, Matthew Lee, Seb Page and skipper Harry Charlesworth never stopped trying.