NIGHTCLIFF got back on track after a rare loss, Southern Districts and Darwin got past their lowly ranked opponents, while Tiwi Bombers’ ripping form continued with yet another win in this round’s action of Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) Men’s Premier League.

WANDERERS 2.1 | 3.3 | 4.5 | 5.5 (35)
NIGHTCLIFF 6.2 | 11.5 | 14.7 | 16.12 (108)

GOALS:

Wanderers: W. Williams 2, D. Thompson, D. Weetra, R. Fejo.
Nightcliff: M. Bricknell 4, L. Sharp 4, J. Butcher 3, L. Holt-Fitz 2, M. McGregor, S. Wilson, T. Melville.

BEST:

Wanderers: C. Haley, K. Stephens, B. McLean, W. Williams, D. Thompson
Nightcliff: K. Riley, L. Masters, J. Butcher, W. Wheeler, J. Peris, J. Budarick

Top-of-the-table Nightcliff continued its terrific season after bouncing back from a rare loss last week to hand down a smashing to Wanderers who slipped down to sixth by the end of the round. Nightcliff burst out of the blocks to pile on six goals to two in the opening term, and led by 50 points at half-time. The team refused to take the foot off after the main break, booting five goals to two to run out 73-point winners in the first game at TIO Oval. Matthew Bricknell and Lachlan Sharp booted four gaols apiece, while former Port Adelaide forward, John Butcher kicked three majors and was named among the best. Talented high flyer Liam Holt-Fitz booted two majors for the Tigers, while Kaine Riley and Williamstown players, Leigh Masters and Willie Wheeler were named in the reigning premiers’ best. For Wanderers, Warwick Williams was the sole multiple goalkicker with two majors, named among the best with Charlie Haley and Kade Stephens. Wanderers take on Southern Districts on Saturday night at TIO Stadium, while Nightcliff host the in-form Tiwi Bombers.

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PALMERSTON MAGPIES 2.0 | 2.4 | 4.5 | 6.7 (43)
SOUTHERN DISTRICTS 1.3 | 5.5 | 9.12 | 14.18 (102)

GOALS:

Palmerston: W. Shadforth, D. Gaykamangu , B. Church, M. Chester, T. Freeman, A. Diamond.
Southern Districts: S. Barnett 3, D. Williams 2, C. McAdam 2, B. Schwarze, D. Hall, M. Joshua, T. Holman, K. Dingo, M. Rosier, J. Farrer.

BEST:

Palmerston: J. Berry, A. Diamond, R. Mungatopi, M. Chester, S. Brock, W. Shadforth
Southern Districts: M. Rosier, B. Lake, J. Farrer, C. McAdam, S. Barnett, T. Holman

Southern Districts kept in touch with Nightcliff following a 59-point victory over cellar dwellers, Palmerston Magpies. The Magpies poor start to the season continued with their eighth straight loss, while the Crocs are up and about having won five and drawn one from as many encounters as the Magpies. It was the underdogs who started strongly booting two goals to one in the opening term, but it was all the Crocs from there, leading by 19 points at half-time, then slamming home nine goals to four in the second half to skip away to the comfortable win on the road. The Crocs had no shortage of goalkickers with Sam Barnett (three majors), Charles McAdam (two) and Damian Williams (two) all getting on the board. Matthew Rosier was handed best on ground honours, while teenage star Brodie Lake and Josiah Farrer were also named among the best. For the Magpies, Jack Berry was named best on ground, while former Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels’ small forward Dale Cox also featured in the side, with Adam Diamond and Randy Mungatopi named in Palmerston’s best. Next weekend, Palmerston looks to break its winless drought against Darwin, while the Crocs host Wanderers.

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WARATAH 2.0 | 4.4 | 8.4 | 10.9 (69)
DARWIN BUFFALOES 1.7 | 3.12 | 10.14 | 14.17 (101)

Waratah: K. Kantilla 5, B. Zobel, M. Newton, L. Fitzgerald, A. Ankers, M. Blake.
Darwin: D. Stafford 5, J. Stokes 3, D. Shillabeer, M. Coombes, B. Culhane, C. Williams, B. Hogan, M. Campbell.

BEST:

Waratah: N/A.
Darwin: I. Seden-Kurnoth, C. Williams, D. Stafford, B. Hogan, C. Atkinson

Fourth placed Darwin Buffaloes overcame some terrible inaccuracy in the first half of their clash with Waratah to get back on track for a 32-point win at TIO Stadium. The Buffaloes were able to leapfrog St Mary’s who went down in the next match, sitting percentage ahead of the Saints and only two points behind second placed Southern Districts. For Waratah, the Warriors remain six points away from sixth spot, and their season is slipping away. Darwin looked a bit shaky early despite leading at each break, but booted three goals from 15 scoring shots in the first half to hold a narrow two-point lead at the main break. They got their act together after that, as the Buffaloes booted 11.5 to Waratah’s 6.5 to record the solid victory. It was a shootout up both ends with Darwin’s Daniel Stafford and Waratah’s Kim Kantilla booting five majors apiece, but Stafford had more support around him. Jarrod Stokes kicked three majors and was one of eight individual goalkickers, while Kantilla was the only multiple goalkicker from Waratah’s six. Isaac Seden-Kurnoth and Chris Williams were named best on ground for their contributions in Darwin’s big win. Abe Ankers and Laine Fitzgerald were among the goalkickers in the Eagles side. Next weekend, Waratah takes on St Mary’s, while Darwin travels to Palmerston to meet the last placed Magpies.

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ST MARY’S 2.1 | 3.5 | 4.6 | 7.8 (50)
TIWI BOMBERS 3.4 | 7.9 | 9.10 | 12.12 (84)

GOALS:

St Mary’s: S. Rioli 2, N. Paredes, J. Geary, L. Larson, T. Saunders, J. Cheek.
Tiwi: J. Best 4, A. Wonaeamirri 3, J. Monigatti 2, M. Kantilla, R. Tungatalum, D. Munkara.

BEST:

St Mary’s: B. Rioli, L. Larson, T. Davies, L. Daly, J. Geary, J. Cheek
Tiwi: A. Hams, L. Wale-Buxton, C. Jones, R. Baird, R. Puruntatameri, J. Puruntatameri

In the final game of the round, Tiwi Bombers’ great form of late continue with a vital 34-point win over St Mary’s. The game was considered an “eight-point” match with St Mary’s able to extend the gap between fourth and fifth out to 10 points, and 14 clear of the Bombers, while instead, Tiwi cut the deficit to just four points and percentage away from the top four. Tiwi controlled the match after a tight start, leading by 10 points at quarter time and 28 points by half-time. Whist the Saints managed to keep in touch after the main break, the damage was done and the Bombers celebrated a great win. Jake Best (four goals), Austin Wonaeamirri (three) and Jack Monigatti (two) all kicked multiple goals for the visiting side, as Shannon Rioli added two for St Mary’s. Former Essendon player, Ashton Hams was named best on ground and really impacted the contest, as did Liam Wale-Buxton and Rodney Baird. For the Saints, Ben Rioli was named the best, while Leroy Larson and Nathaniel Paredes both booted goals in defeat. Next week, the Tiwi Bombers travel to test themselves against Nightcliff, while St Mary’s host a must-win game against Waratah.