GUTS and determination were enough for a fading SFL side to wrestle back state bragging rights at North Hobart yesterday. With 23 of the 24-man southern squad backing up from club matches on Saturday, the SFL's hardened bodies and defensive pressure shone through as Andrew Lamprill's men held on for a 10.22 (82) to 9.12 (66) victory over the NTFL. The win was set up in the second quarter, when the home side piled on 5.9 while keeping their opponents scoreless. In fact, the NTFL only entered their forward arc on three occasions for the term, and, if not for wasteful kicking, the 41-point half-time margin could have been even more. The lead stretched to 50 points when Tim Bracken kicked his third goal at the start of the last term, before the NTFL booted the last five goals of the match as they, as expected, finished the match with more run. Lamprill praised his men for doing everything in their power to ensure they were as fresh as possible yesterday morning. ``There was a lot [of guts]. It was just fantastic. At half-time, we said we just had to keep doing the things we were doing because we were good at that,'' Lamprill said. ``We just needed to use the ball a bit smarter coming in the forward line because they were setting up behind the play with a wall. ``They all did the right thing. The New Norfolk boys called into Kingston and got in the water on the beach on the way back from Huonville and the Kingston and Dodges boys were in the ice baths there. ``They were all keen [to back-up] and it showed in the way they went about it.'' A power-packed forward line of Bracken, Michael Thompson, Jack Siggins and resting ruckman Brad Carver provided tall targets all day, while nippy half-forwards Nathan Ross and Brett Booth fed off any crumbs. Best afield honours went to Kingston captain Jack Philp who, despite being knocked out during club duties by SFL skipper Brad Curran on Saturday, bounced back to be influential rebounding from half-back. NTFL coach Kent Jackson said the home side's experience proved the difference. ``I think it was a lack of experience as much as anything,'' Jackson said. ``They were a bit older as a group and they had more players who have played [at higher levels] who have an understanding of structures in football. Our guys didn't understand their defensive structures.'' Last year's Paddy Martin medallist Scott Blizzard shined again for the Northerners. Rod King, Rohan Baldock and Josh Smith were solid.
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