IT was a record-breaking day in the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) preliminary final. For Southern Districts, they earned a spot in the NTFL decider against Nightcliff, racking up the highest preliminary final winning margin on record. Even more remarkably, turning the tables on the Tiwi Bombers who defeated the Crocs just a fortnight earlier. It was a day to forget for the Bombers who suffered back-to-back finals losses combining 210 points on what had been a terrific season. But now just two teams remained and it would be Southern Districts who would have a crack at Nightcliff in the grand final next weekend.

From the start, Southern Districts looked to be in control and a different side to the one that dropped the first round final to the Bombers. Both sides were able to get on the board in the opening term, with Tiwi squandering some opportunities with two goals from six scoring shots, while the Crocs were almost perfect with four from five to take a nine-point advantage into the first break.

The second term saw Southern Districts begin to put the foot down in what was eventually a memorable win, as the Crocs piled on four goals to one. They were the ones to miss a few second quarter opportunities, kicking four behinds, while the Bombers made good on their one chance from Ross Tungalatum. The defensive pressure dropped off after the main break, with the Bombers’ scoring cut right down aside from a one-minute patch where Patrick Heenan – his second of the contest – and Austin Wonaeamirri got on the end of goals to reduce the deficit to seven goals.

That was where the hope ended for the Bombers however as the Crocs stormed home to kick 13 unanswered goals from the 16th minute of the third term to the final siren. Jesse Koopman was unstoppable up forward with six majors, named best on ground for his haul. William Farrer converted five opportunities including the opening goal of the game and a cheeky mid-air shot in the third term, while Michael Mummery also booted a bag of five.

The trio was among 11 individual goal kickers for the Cros, including Josiah Farrer and Ed Barlow who were also named in the best, as were Steven Stewart and Sebastion Guilhaus. The Crocs now set their sights on Nightcliff next weekend with the Tigers hardly putting a foot wrong this season. The top two sides have made it through to the NTFL decider, and after both had thumping wins to earn their spot, it will be interesting to see how the game plays out.

TIWI BOMBERS 2.4 | 3.4 | 5.7 | 5.10 (40)
SOUTHERN DISTRICTS 4.1 | 8.5 | 14.6 | 25.10 (160)

GOALS:

Tiwi: P. Heenan 2, H. Puruntatameri, R. Tungatalum, A. Wonaeamirri.
Southern Districts: J. Koopman 6, M. Mummery 5, W. Farrer 5, J. Brennan 2, C. McAdam, R. O”Brien, D. Staunton, B. Schwarze, E. Barlow, S. Thorne, J. Farrer.

BEST:

Tiwi: Not supplied.
Southern Districts: J. Koopman, S. Stewart, S. Guilhaus, W. Farrer, E. Barlow, J. Farrer