EACH of the bottom four sides suffered defeats in a round which proved to be a tipper’s paradise in Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) Men’s Premier League action, leaving the ladder relatively unchanged.

NIGHTCLIFF 12.11 (83)
TIWI BOMBERS 10.16 (76)

GOALS:
Nightcliff: C. Ilett 3, L. Holt-Fitz 2, J. Butcher 2, M. Hagan 2, H. Drogemuller, S. Wilson, F. James.
Tiwi: H. Puruntatameri 2, D. Munkara 2, L. Wale-Buxton 2, R. Tungatalum 2, C. Burgess, M. King.

BEST:
Nightcliff: J. Miles, K. Riley, L. Holt-Fitz, G. Greenoff, J. Budarick, M. Hagan
Tiwi: J. Puruntatameri, L. Wale-Buxton, H. Puruntatameri, D. Munkara, R. Tungatalum, S. Dyke

A strong opening term proved all the difference for Nightcliff in its narrow win over the in-form Tiwi Bombers in the game of the round. The Tigers kept their opponents goalless in the first quarter to help open a 21-point lead which they managed to hold for most of the match. It was on the final straight where Tiwi made its biggest surge, falling seven points short to the second-placed side despite scoring 4.5 to Nightcliff’s 2.2. The Tigers had contributors across the board, with legendary veteran Cam Ilett, ex-Port forward John Butcher, Liam Holt-Fitz and Michael Hagan each booting two goals, with the latter two named among the best. Jonathon Miles was adjudged the most valuable player afield, with Joel Budarick returning to form and Gavin Greenoff also thereabouts. For the Bombers, Jason Puruntatameri was reliable as ever, while newcomer Liam Wale-Buxton also proved his star debut performance was no fluke with two goals. Ross Tungatalum and Dion Munkara were others to claim two majors and round out the best players in a valiant team effort. The result bears little consequence on the ladder, with both sides staying put in second and fifth respectively, with Tiwi still level with St Marys and Palmerston and two wins away from cracking the top four.

WANDERERS 12.5 (77)
WARATAH 16.8 (104)

GOALS:
Wanderers: D. Ferreira 5, J. Tipiloura 3, M. Totham, J. Cubillo, S. Bates.
Waratah: C. Barrett 6, R. Jolliffe 3, K. Kantilla 3, S. Weddell 2, B. Minkulk, J. McKenzie.

BEST:
Wanderers: T. Brimacombe, D. Ferreira, T. Motlop, J. Tipiloura
Waratah: C. Barrett, B. Carroll, R. Jolliffe, M. O’Donnell, A. Aurrichio

Waratah claimed an important win in its bid to consolidate a finals spot with a comfortable enough 27-point win over bottom-placed Wanderers. With both sides converting well in front of goal on account of a spearhead goal-off, the match was evenly poised going into the main break with Waratah holding a three-point lead. The Warriors managed to pull away from the deadlock in the second half though, with nine goals to five seeing them over the line. Cameron Barrett was the star of the day, booting six goals in a dominant display for Waratah, beating out Wanderers’ Davin Ferreira’s total of five. Raven Jolliffe and Kim Kantilla snared three each, with Samuel Weddell rounding out the multiple goalkicker with his two. John Tipiloura took the opportunities that Ferreira didn’t manage to snare to claim three majors, with Tyler Brimacombe adjudged the Eagles’ best alongside Thomas Motlop despite not hitting the scoreboard. The win sees the Warriors wedged two games above fifth place in equal-third, but two games below Nightcliff in second. Their strong finals position is a far cry from Wanderers in last, but the Muk Muks are only a win away from re-joining the race for the last finals spot.

DARWIN BUFFALOES 12.5 (77)
ST MARYS 8.14 (62)

GOALS:
Darwin: M. Campbell 3, A. Sambono 3, J. Anderson 2, P. Boles, J. Stokes, A. Punch.
St Marys: T. Frawley 3, M. Liddy 2, N. Paredes, M. Rioli Jnr, S. Rioli.

BEST:
Darwin: R. O’Sullivan, K. Maroney, C. Williams, J. Briston, C. Stokes, J. Stokes
St Marys: N. Paredes, M. Rioli Jnr, B. Rioli, B. Taylor, J. Puautjimi, N. Yarran

Darwin kept pace with fellow top four contenders Waratah with a hard-fought 15-point win over St Marys to round out Saturday’s TIO Stadium triple-header. The Buffaloes’ 11-point quarter time lead was a constant throughout the game, as the Saints couldn’t quite manage to break through and bridge the gap between their more efficient opponents. St Marys’ inefficient tally of 8.14 proved the difference in the end, with its four more scoring shots wasted in a tight finish. Maurice Rioli jnr earned a rising star nomination for his efforts – booting a goal and finishing in the best half-dozen players for the second time in three games for the Saints. With Darwin’s very own young star Malcolm Rosas currently making himself comfortable at the Gold Coast Suns, the experienced head of Matthew Campbell (three goals) and Javaad Anderson (two goals) helped to maintain their form, with livewire Adam Sambono also booting three, while Ryan O’Sullivan was named best-on for the second game running with help from the consistent Kevin Maroney. Tom Frawley found form for St Marys with three goals, but Nathaniel Paredes was his side’s best as he also managed to claim a goal. Nicholas Yarran is another who has shown promising form of late, and was also named in the best. Despite the win, Darwin falls below Waratah to fourth place on percentage, while St Marys remain in the thick of a mid-table bottleneck as it fights for fifth place with Tiwi and Palmerston. Wins will be paramount to the Saints’ cause from here on out, with Tiwi in hot form and a two-game gap opening between fourth and fifth.

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS 24.9 (153)
PALMERSTON MAGPIES 5.12 (42)

GOALS:
Southern Districts: J. Koopman 6, R. Tambling 5, C. Gallio 3, M. Mummery 2, B. Vallance 2, W. Farrer, B. Rusca, C. McAdam, D. Staunton, I. Wyatt, J. Farrer.
Palmerston: S. Autio 2, J. Marshall, J. Lampton, B. Church.

BEST:
Southern Districts: R. Tambling, J. Brennan, J. Koopman, S. Guilhaus, D. Staunton, C. Gallio
Palmerston: S. Talbot, R. Baird, J. Marshall, S. Autio, A. Diamond, M. Dennis

Southern Districts looks to be back to its destructive best after a dominant 111-point win over second-bottom Palmerston in the round’s final fixture. The Crocs were as shrewd as ever, with arguably their best 22 for the year returning a stellar performance. Starting as they wished to go on, the Crocs booted 15 opening half majors to Palmerston’s four, not giving the Magpies a sniff throughout the entire contest. While Jess Koopman was the round’s equal-leading goal scorer with six, former number four draft pick Richard Tambling was named best afield with his haul of five, returning multiple goals for the first time this season alongside Clinton Gallio, who booted three. With usual goal threats Michael Mummery and Bradley Vallance also thereabouts with two goals each, and Jared Brennan slotting in seamlessly up the field, it was a complete performance from the reigning premiers. Samuel Talbot was again the best for Palmerston with Rodney Baird not far behind, while Samuel Autio was the only multiple goalkicker with two. Last year’s bottom side Palmerston now flirts with the possibility of falling back down the cellar door with Wanderers holding a greater percentage despite being a win behind. Southern Districts on the other hand, maintains its four-point lead atop the table, and looks to have regained its early season form.