PALMERSTON broke clear in the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) Women’s Premier League top four in emphatic style, trumping Nightcliff to draw level with Southern Districts on points, as other results also kept true to ladder position in anticipation of finals time.

WARATAH 0.1 | 2.2 | 3.5 | 6.8 (44)
PINT 1.3 | 2.4 | 4.4 | 4.6 (30)

GOALS:

Waratah: S. Nalder 3, M. Hunter 2, J. Singh
Pint: N/A

BEST:

Waratah: C. Fabris, S. Nalder, M. Hunter, I. Rapson-Staropoli, R. Pryer
Pint: N/A

Ladder leader and minor premier, Waratah maintained its winning form heading into the post-season, earning a trying 14-point win over Pint on home turf. The Queen Ants took it to the Warriors for three quarters, but ultimately came undone when it mattered to be overrun 6.8 (44) to 4.6 (30). An upset was brewing as the seventh-ranked Pint entered the first three breaks with a lead, albeit no greater than a goal heading into the last change, but it meant little as Waratah ran over the top with 3.3 to 0.2 to claim a fourth-consecutive victory – almost doubling its score while keeping Pint goalless for the first time in the match. The Warriors managed to conjure up a winning score without massive scoring contributions from leading goalkickers Jenna Singh and Lauren O’Shea, with Singh only claiming the one major while O’Shea was absent. On the other hand, the result keeps in line with Pint’s usual competitiveness, maintaining a percentage good enough for fifth despite its negative record to this point. The Bullants will have the bye in Round 17, with Waratah awaiting a top of the table clash against Darwin next time out.

WANDERERS 0.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 (8)
DARWIN BUFFETTES 2.4 | 6.5 | 7.7 | 8.9 (57)

GOALS:

Wanderers: N/A
Darwin: T. Hart-Aluni 2, C. Browne, K. Duggan, M. Turner, D. Ah Wang, J. Dodsworth, R. De Santis

BEST:

Wanderers: N/A
Darwin: D. Totham, J. Iacono, K. Duggan, T. Hart-Aluni, D. Carbone

Darwin returned to the winners list and broke further clear in second spot with its impressive 49-point win over Wanderers on Saturday evening. The Buffettes shut Wanderers out in a low-scoring second half to see out the 8.9 (57) to 1.2 (8) result, consolidating its top two status ahead of a clash with minor premier, Waratah. While Darwin managed to kick away to a steady two-goal lead from the off, much of the damage was done in a four-goal to one second term in favour of the Buffettes, with their continued scoring and stingy defence from that point, onwards getting the job done. Tayla Hart-Aluni bounced back from a goalless outing in Round 15 to notch two majors as her side’s sole multiple goalkicker, leading a line of seven Darwin goal-getters. It was the likes of Danielle Totham and Jemma Iacono who were named the most valuable Buffettes on the day though, with the finals-bound side able to stamp its authority. Wanderers simply did not have enough in the scoring department on the day in response, consigned to a third-straight loss with Tracy Village next on the agenda, and their finals spot on the line.

PALMERSTON 2.2 | 4.2 | 6.5 | 9.7 (61)
NIGHTCLIFF 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 2.1 (13)

GOALS:

Palmerston: F. Puruntatameri 3, A. Moreen 2, J. Brock, M. Brown, L. McCoy, T. May
Nightcliff: E. Morrison, J. Anyon-Smith

BEST:

Palmerston: N. Medbury, T. May, J. Brock, Y. Roe, S. Leedie, L. McCoy
Nightcliff: A. Moliere, E. Morrison, E. Wolsey

A combination of potent attack and sturdy defence proved the winning formula for Palmerston as the Magpies overcame an in-form Nightcliff side to break clear within the top four. The Tigers’ four-game win streak – which included the scalps of top two team, Waratah and Darwin – was brought to an abrupt halt as the Magpies consistently applied scoreboard pressure to achieve the 9.7 (61) to 2.1 (13) victory. Palmerston kept the Tigers scoreless for half of the game while adding at least two goals across each term to grow the eventually healthy 48-point margin, leaning on a couple of reliable goalkickers in the process. Arthurina Moreen (two goals, 32 overall) and Freda Puruntatameri (three and 16) led the scoring effort with over half of their side’s majors as the sole multiple goalkickers, continuing a consistent theme for the Magpies. Eliza Morrison, one of two Nightcliff players to find the big sticks was one of the Tigers’ best, only behind Andi Moliere in those stakes. While the Tigers are almost safe in their finals spot, a meeting with Southern Districts next time out will make holding on tough, with Palmerston set to face St Mary’s in its next outing.

ST MARY’S 0.4 | 5.8 | 5.10 | 8.14 (62)
TRACY VILLAGE 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 (7)

GOALS:

St Mary’s: N/A
Tracy Village: N/A

BEST:

St Mary’s: N/A
Tracy Village: N/A

St Mary’s played above its ladder position in an emphatic 55-point win over Tracy Village to end a four-game losing run and see out Round 16. It only took one big term for the Saints to break the game open, kicking away quickly to set up the eventual 8.14 (62) to 1.1 (7) scoreline. After a goalless opener which yielded few highlights, the Saints took advantage of the scoring end to plow through five majors to Tracy Village’s nil and turn the game well to their favour. They were outpointed immediately after the main break, but hit back well to cap off the win with another three goals to nil. Finals has been out of reach for both sides, but any set of four points bodes well for bottom three sides and a positive end to the year is just what St Mary’s will be after. They face Palmerston next time out in a tough assignment, while Tracy Village tackles Wanderers in hopes of foiling the Eagles’ finals aspirations.

Bye: Southern Districts