Clarence just too hot for Burnie

CLARENCE’S premiership campaign remained on track with its 43-point win over the Burnie Dockers at Blundstone Arena yesterday but the Roos could be without Jake Cox for its top-of-the-ladder clash with North Launceston on Saturday.

After kicking three goals, Cox tweaked his groin 10 minutes into the third term, limped off and took no further part in the match.

Clarence coach Jeromey Webberley said Cox’s ex- tended bench time was cautionary.

“He’s only strained it a bit, so I’d say he’d be right for next week,” Webberley said.

It was one of two disappointments for Webberley – that, and the second quarter.

Clarence bolted out of the blocks to lead by 32 points at the first change and the Roos looked like they were just getting warmed-up up.

To their credit, Burnie sprung to life in the second, booting five goals and kept Clarence goalless and had the home side looking second rate.

In fact, the Dockers should have led at halftime had they not blundered so many shots at goal deep in time-on and subsequently trailed by one point at the half.

On the flip side, Webberley was ropeable at the long break.

“I was disappointed, let’s put it that way,” he said.

“In the second quarter we took our foot off the gas and played ‘bruise free’ football. “We fixed that at halftime. “The boys came out and brought a better intensity and their defensive pressure was a lot better.

“That’s an area that hasn’t really been good enough for the past few games.”

Speedy Trent Standen was on fire up front, drilling four goals while Ian Callinan kicked three with two to wingman Kyle Palmer-Hughes and Michael Blackburn.

Onballers Jackson O’Brien and Brady Jones led an efficient engine room while Michael Fisher and Tim Castle were at the defensive best.

Docker Blair Rubock excelled in attack, kicking three goals while Rudy Barrett was the Dockers’ best.