Bombers bustle to decisive win

LAUDERDALE has locked away a not her TSL finals appearance but has paid a hefty price for its scrappy victory against Glenorchy. The Bombers secured a rare KG V win under lights in gr easy conditions but the 10.13(73) to 2.8.20 result was soured by a serious injury to star ruckman Haydn Smith. Smith dislocated his ankle and was stretcher ed from the ground early in the second quarter after landing heavily in the centre square following a ruck contest. Wingman Robbie McMan us (shoulder/ AC joint) also failed to appear after half time from a big clash with team mate Nicholas Baker in the second term. The pair were both taken to hospital post match. While the victory guarantees another shot at redemption from losing the past three grand finals —and most likely a semi-final show down against Launceston— the loss o f Smith for the remaining month of the season is a major blow to Lauder dale’ s premier ship tilt. “It is always flat when one of your team mates goes down and it was certainly a flat moment, we had to get the boys focused on the game ,” coach Darren Winter said. “That’s really unsettling, to lose someone so close to finals is disappointing.” The Bombers jumped the hosts by kicking the first four goals in what proved to be a match defining start. Two of those came via T out a i Hav ea, with the rugby convert having a hand in another when a pass off the side of boot landed in the arms of the reliable Josh Mc Guinness 30 mou ton as light angle. Z ac Webster, who will come under close scrutiny from the match review panel for a hit on Bryce Walsh, got the Pie son the board after the quarter time sir en when he threaded the needle from the 35 mon the boundary, but Glen orchy was unable to capitalise early in the second stanza when it had the run of play. Mitch Rain bird and Call en Daly both missed get table opportunities, with John G ea rd’ s major courtesy of a Bomber turnover the only reward. Neither side was able to make any head way in the first 15 minutes after the long break until two goals in a minute through Walsh and Have a broke the shackles and the visitors put the foot down in the last quarter to add some valuable percentage.