Roos shoot straight and reap reward

CLARENCE has ensured a slice of TSL silverware will return south in 2021 after outlasting Launceston in a pulsating development league grand final.

Both sides were stocked with emerging talent which has been on the fringes of seniors all season and in a high quality contest neither gave an inch.

The margin was no more than two goals across the first three quarters before an accurate Roos broke free in the last to register a 12.2 (74) to 8.12 (60) victory.

Clarence was the only team to defeat Launceston this year and repeated the dose on the biggest stage after falling agonisingly close in the semifinal a fortnight ago.

Leading by five points at the last change, the Roos defence absorbed everything the home side could throw at it before putting the doubt in a burst.

Back-to-back goals to Jacques result beyond stunning threeminute

Barwick pushed the margin out to a game-high 15 points and when Liam Howard swooped on a loose ball two minutes later and slotted a goal from 25m, the Clarence camp was celebrating with only six minutes left on the clock.

Future star Bryce Alomes bagged five goals, Barwick finished with three while Luke Swinton was judged best afield in the victory.

“They had their handball spread away from stoppage in the first half that they were getting scores from and we had to really clamp down on that,” coach Ben Cato said.

“We stayed in it longer [than the semi] and it’s probably the first game we have kicked straight in a while, so it was good.

“There’s clearly 10 blokes who could go on and play 10 years of senior footy and more behind that if they want to work, the future is bright at the footy club.”