Storm coach Tim Inkster said the scoreboard flattered his side. 

“We had to work for it and they played well, especially early,” he said.

Taylors Lake kept with the Storm for much of the first half, but fell away in the second half. 

“With a heap of juniors they cramped up and the game opened up late,” Inkster said. 

Taylors Lake coach Jye Smith said injuries hurt his young side. 

“The first half was unreal for us and we played in patches the style we are going for this year,” he said.

“We held with them for the half but unfortunately we had too many guys go down injured. We had five or six get injured or cramp up. We are a running side, so that hurt us.

“As a whole, it was a good learning curve. We have a lot to improve on. The biggest thing for us is not our skills but our confidence.”

Shane Maslin, Bradley Hunter and Ashley Clugston were named best on ground for the Storm, with Matthew McCulloch, Smith and Alexander Hill the best for Taylors Lake. 

Storm’s Daniel Batson and Ashley Clugston both kicked nine goals. 

Inkster said: “There is still a lot to work on. We missed a heap of tackles and we got through the contest too quickly without taking the football.”