Stars Adam Sewell, Myles Sewell, Steve Clifton and Dan Wehrung had a hand in most of the Cats’ successful attacks in a two-quarter blitz that had the visitors up by 50 points at the main break. From there, the battle turned into a dour struggle as the wet and chilly conditions took over.

The Lakies did trim the final margin to a respectable 27 points, but the home side was never in with a sniff of success.

Wehrung, Newlyn’s joint-coach, said it was good to start well after an extended break due to the Smythesdale bye and Queen’s birthday long weekend.

“It still probably took us five or 10 (minutes) to get going, but once we clicked that next quarter and a half was excellent,” Wehrung said.

The debut of mid-season recruit Michael Bowden will have been pleasing for Newlyn faithful, with the Northern Territory import bobbing up for three goals during the Cats’ first half blitz.

And while backman Wes Carter and forward Declan Lourey (two goals) also played well, it was certainly Adam Sewell that had the biggest influence on the game. Playing off half back, Sewell collected heaps of possession and set up many of the side’s attacks on goal.

Learmonth didn’t have many winners on the day, but Anthony Zelencich was dangerous at times in attack and kicked three goals, while Jason Rae was named best for his efforts in the middle and off half back.

“We played three quarters of solid footy and again the second quarter let us down,” Learmonth coach Nick Willox said. “A couple of their better players just took control through the middle and exposed us at times. We let them have too much space.

“In the second half we were able to set up defensively and control the play a lot better, but it was too late.”

Brodrick Campbell was the main injury concern for the Lakies after he hobbled off the field and into the rooms in the last quarter with a serious knee concern.

Newlyn has kept its place at the top of the Central Highlands Football League ladder with Saturday’s win, while Learmonth has slipped to seventh.