Lauderdale hopes win sees history repeat
HEADING into last night’s game at the Twin Ovals, Lauderdale was placed in a position it had been in before and the Bombers will be hoping their 27-point win over the Tigers will have a parallel effect to a similar victory from last season.
This time last year Lauderdale started the season 0-3, but a 13-point win over the Hobart City Demons kickstarted a run of 15 wins in its next 19 games, with one of the losses coming in last year’s grand final.
Last night the Bombers went into the game having lost their first three games, but they were able to overcome the Tigers at the Twin Ovals 16.14 (110) to 13.5 (83).
The game was evenly balanced at quarter-time with Lauderdale having its nose just in front by two points after the two teams went goal for goal during the opening term.
The Tigers got on top in the second quarter with their midfield opening up the game.
Lachlan Clifford had a blinder of a first half and his two silky goals in the second quarter helped the Tigers lead by 20 points at the main break.
Enter Timothy Mosquito, who turned the game on its head with two goals in two minutes to put the Bombers back into the contest.
This time it was Lauderdale’s midfield that took hold of the game with ruckman Hayden Smith dominating the hit-outs.
Smooth mover Rhys Sutton was also instrumental in the Bombers’ comeback, along with talented youngster Ben McGuinness, whose second goal of the third term gave Lauderdale the lead.
The Bombers were four points in front to start the last quarter, but a 12-point play which saw Ryan Matthews snap a goal followed by Will Campbell getting a free kick and finishing gave the hosts the lead back. However, more magic from Mosquito put Lauderdale in front and, from there, the Bombers controlled the game.
Lauderdale coach Clinton Brown gave his team a few words at halftime and could not fault his players’ efforts after the major break.
“We had a handful of blokes who were doing the majority of the work in the first half and the rest were sitting off,” he said.
“I put it on to them at halftime to play more one on one. We shut their run down and were able to produce scoring opportunities from our defensive pressure.”