The Lions Reserves have gone down to the Canberra Demons 2.5 (17) to 8.12 (60) in cold and miserable conditions at Manuka Oval.

Both teams toiled at ground level on the slippery turf and found it tough to hit targets in the inclement weather.

However the Demons proved more effective in the wet and were able to take the game away from the Lions in the second quarter.

The home side piled on five unanswered goals during the term to stretch the margin out to 34 points at half time.

It was a low-scoring ordeal in the third quarter with only one goal for the Demons and no score added for the Lions.

Brisbane managed to gain momentum in the final term but were unable to hit the scoreboard often enough and claw back the deficit.

Celebrating his 100^th NEAFL game, Jordan Harper stole the show for the Demons, putting on a clinic with his 32 disposals and 13 tackles in a best on ground performance.

Rhys Mathieson’s contested footy skills were a huge boost for the Reserves with the 19-year-old racking up 29 disposals and making 8 tackles.

The Reserves play 7^th placed Southport next Saturday at Fankhouser Reserve.

NEAFL LIONS                  1.1       1.2       1.2       2.5 (17)
CANBERRA DEMONS       1.4       6.6       7.8       8.12 (60)

GOALS

Lions: Evans, Corvo
Demons: Mahon 3, Fothergill 2, Harper, Stevens, Frail

BEST

Lions: Mathieson, Gribble, Corvo, Evans
Demons: Harper, Dowdell, Mahon, Taylor

Manuka Oval, Canberra.