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TSL footy roared into action yesterday after months of off-season controversy and the loss of two teams. And there was no shortage of passion or intensity, as shown by the Tigers’ Tyler Carter and North Hobart’s Hugh M. Williams.

TRENT Baumeler has won the battle of the former Hobart City assistant coaches as the Tigers kickstarted the State League season with a comfortable victory against North Hobart yesterday.

The Tigers used three short bursts in three different quarters to pull clear of the home side, spoiling the Demons’ party as they celebrated the rebirth of the great club and Richard Robinson’s first game in charge.

Led by livewire forward Edward Burrows-Cheng (four goals), the Tigers kept North Hobart goalless in the second half en route to an easy win.

The visitors jumped out of the blocks to seize the advantage, slamming on three majors in the first six minutes, two through Burrows-Cheng and another from Connor Bryant, who was proving just as dangerous as a small forward.

It took the Demons nearly 22 minutes to hit the scoreboard before Tom Reeves goaled on the run from 40m, earning the honour of kicking the first goal in the traditional North Hobart colours.

When the Tigers added the first two goals of the second quarter it was looking ominous for the hosts, but the side began working its way into the contest and responded with the last three majors to cut the gap to 18 points at halftime.

North controlled the play early in the third stanza but was unable to convert from repeat inside-50 entries into the wind, and when Sam Duigan converted a set shot at the other end the momentum swung.

Goals to Luke Graham and Marcus Davies — the latter a brilliant effort from near the 50m arc — pushed the gap back out to 35 points and a tiring Demons outfit, containing 15 teenagers, was unable to mount a challenge in the last term.

“We knew it was going to be a little bit of a grind, as first games usually are, with a couple of numbers behind the footy we probably battled at times working out whether to even that up or go with numbers behind ourselves,” said Baumeler, who was an assistant last year alongside Robinson at Hobart City.

“I thought our ball use, the times we got it right, we looked good.

“At times there was a bit of rust, and as a new group there were times where jelling together it got a bit dusty, but generally pleased.

“I thought our pressure was good, our tackle number was where we want it to be, and that’s going to be an important part of our game.”

The only sour note was a late injury to Bryant, who finished the game with his right arm in a sling with what looked an AC joint sprain.

Baumeler was unsure of the extent of the injury, with the youngster in doubt to face reigning premier North Launceston next weekend.