Lindisfarne turns tables

Two Blues simply too strong for former nemesis New Norfolk

A NEW season brought a new dawn for Lindisfarne, which moved on from last year’s SFL grand final heartbreak to record a strong victory over onetime nemesis New Norfolk at Boyer Oval.

The opening round of the SFL season brought a rematch of last year’s epic decider, won by the Eagles by five points in the dying minutes.

But there was to be no repeat this time, with the Two Blues controlling the home side and the windy conditions to burst away in the third quarter on the way to a 28-point win, 12.13 (85) to 8.9 (57). Lindisfarne coach Daniel Willing said last year’s disappointment was not on the agenda.

“We didn’t speak about it once, it is gone,” Willing said.

“They won it and we didn’t so we move on.

“We’ve had a bit of a list change and a lot of turnover so it is a pretty new group and those guys don’t know anything about it. We just concentrated on today and we will bank these four points, go home and recover and look forward to playing Dodges.”

The game swung on the breeze in the first half, with eight of the 10 opening half goals scored to the main entrance end. But the visitors were able to gain the ascendancy just before the main break and their eight-point halftime lead blew out to 43 points at the last change.

Ollie Rand was able to gain control in the ruck to feed the likes of Sam Adams and Kieran Rogers, while Daniel Blazley provided the run and rebound off half back.

It was also the start of a new era for the Eagles after they lost 11 of last year’s premiership team over the off season.

Hobart won a thriller at Shark Park after turning a 21point halftime deficit into a gutsy two-point win over Dodges Ferry, 13.8 (86) to 12.12 (84). Sorell started the season in style, belting Brighton by 94 points at Pontville, and Claremont had a 66-point win on the road against Cygnet.