Launceston Trample Stags

Tasmanian Rugby front-runners Launceston continued their dominance with a convincing 41-5 victory over Glenorchy Stags at Eady Street on Saturday.  The home side was shut out in the second half by a visiting pack hungy for the ball.
 
Launceston’s assistant coach David Smith rated their effort as the best so far and the sort of rugby that they have been striving to produce.  Stags coach Shannan Banks agreed - ‘Launceston have shown themselves as the competition bench mark’.  ‘We let ourselves down at time in defence but overall we weren’t that far off the pace.’  Several pushed passes under pressure cost Glenorchy dearly.
 
Best for the winners were Liam Loubser at fly-half and scrum-half Jake Shayer, but Smith could not fault or separate any of the marauding Launceston pack.  Glenorchy benefited from the combination of Dan Aualiitia at fly-half, replacement scrum-half Jason Hall and centre David Smith.
 
Burnie Emus maintained the pressure at the top of the ladder by easily accounting for Devonport Bulls 43-15 at Burnie.  An outstanding effort by the Bulls forwards disrupted Burnie in the first period, particularly in the scrum.  Burnie re-grouped after the break and shut Devonport out physically until a mini comeback in the last 15 minutes assisted by the Emus being reduced to 13 players by cards.
 
Emus coach Dave Webber said the Devonport pack played well, the damaging runs of Bulls back-rower Marika Meo dominating until outstanding tackling from Emus centre Dane Apiti began to turn over possession.  ‘Our backs just did the job once we got into the flow and the forwards took over’ said Webber.  Brock Webber and Brett Bentley defended extremely well in the short-handed Emus defensive line.
 
Bulls mentor Derik Joubert said his squad felt extremely frustrated at not turning early forward pressure into points.  ‘I acknowledge Burnie’s dominance – the scoreline speaks for itself’, he said.  ‘We suffered from the disjointed flow and when they get the ball out wide they can hurt you.’  Best for Devonport were back-rowers Johannes Joubert and Meo and skipper Sean Puke.
 
Taroona Blues, less 8 regular starters, edged out Hobart Lions 32-28 in a see-sawing encounter at Rugby Park.  The Lions grabbed an immediate lead with a try from a rehearsed move, but Taroona hit back with 3 tries in the next 15 minutes to command a healthy lead until half-time.  Hobart won the second period but were hampered by a serious shoulder injury to flanker John Playle.
 
Best for the Blues were Charlie Holmes, Pat Schramm and Ed Salter.  Wilhelm Koch scored a hat-trick of tries for Hobart, with fellow backs Derek Clack and Linc Bowman also very effective.
 
Eastern Suburbs forfeited to Harlequins, casting doubt on their immediate future.