ROUND 16 of the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) Women’s Premier League saw the sides between second and fifth claim important wins on the eve of finals, while undefeated ladder leader Pint enjoyed a week off. With just two regular season rounds remaining, the top five has all but officially fallen into place and looks set to produce an intriguing crescendo to the 2020/21 competition. Catch up on all the results and fallout in our weekend wrap.

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NIGHTCLIFF 1.3 | 4.4 | 9.9 | 12.13 (85)
PALMERSTON 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 (9)

GOALS:

Nightcliff: L. Gooden 5, K. Irvine 2, T. Taylor-Kickett 2, B. Richards, J. Anyon-Smith, K. Hill-Carter
Palmerston: K. White

BEST:

Nightcliff: E. Morrison, J. Puautjimi, J. Anyon-Smith, O. Hatzismalis, B. Richards
Palmerston: I. Ronberg, T. May, B. Byers, B. McDougall, J. Guthridge, S. Leedie

Nightcliff is in the box seat to secure fifth spot after thumping Palmerston by 76 points at Nightcliff Oval on Saturday afternoon, putting the Tigers two games clear in fifth with as many left to play. The Magpies were kept scoreless in the first and fourth terms, while the Tigers piled on 11 of their 12 majors after quarter time to accelerate towards the 12.13 (85) to 1.3 (9) result.

Lauren Gooden booted five majors to spearhead Nightcliff’s scoring effort, while the likes of Eliza Morrison and Jamie-Lee Puautjimi featured at the forefront of their side’s dominance around the ground. Kristy Irvine and Tahlia Taylor-Kickett also finished with multiple goals (two each) for the winners. Kiara White was Palmerston’s only major scorer, with Iesha Ronberg and Tabitha May among the best in black and white.

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TRACY VILLAGE 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 (0)
SOUTHERN DISTRICTS 4.3 | 8.5 | 14.14 | 18.18 (126)

GOALS:

Tracy Village: Nil.
Southern Districts: G. Mulvahil 11, S. Hoogeveen-Hill 2, R. Busch, D. Lee-Feeney, N. Seton-Scott, R. Hewitt, B. Clarke

BEST:

Tracy Village: Z. Clarke, S. Wilson, K. Marschall, E. Irving, L. Toner, C. McDermid
Southern Districts: G. Mulvahil, R. Busch, B. Clarke, R. Hewitt, J. Brock

Southern Districts kept its top three hopes alive with a comprehensive 126-point dismantling of league cellar dweller Tracy Village on Saturday, spearheaded by an incredible 11 goals from Grace Mulvahil. The young forward was in everything, leading up the ground and causing headaches inside 50 as her Crocs dined on their lowly opponents in the 18.18 (126) to 0 thumping.

The likes of Rhiannon Busch and Bella Clarke were also recognised among the Crocs’ best players, while Samantha Hoogeveen-Hill was the game’s only other multiple goalkicker. The ever-reliable Zhoe Clarke again featured atop Tracy Village’s bests, with Emma Irving another to continue her solid form among the Razorbacks’ winless side.

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WANDERERS 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.12 (24)
DARWIN BUFFETTES 2.2 | 5.3 | 10.8 | 15.10 (100)

GOALS:

Wanderers: K. Armstrong, S. Mauboy
Darwin: N/A

BEST:

Wanderers: T. Davern, R. Fecht, T. Parriman, F. Koulakis, S. De Satge, I. Schober
Darwin: N/A

A 10-goal second half saw Darwin kick away from Wanderers for a 76-point win at Tracy Village on Sunday, strengthening the Buffettes’ standing in second spot. A three-goal half time buffer saw the Muk Muks enter the second half with a sniff, but that was quickly taken away as the Double Blues flexed their muscle to come away comfortable 15.10 (100) to 2.12 (24) victors.

The midfield combination of Ashanti Bush and Dominique Carbone worked wonders in breaking the game open when it was on the line, as Bush booted seven majors to emphatically steer her side clear after the main break. Rhiannon Fecht and Tishara Davern were named the Muk Muks’ best players, with Sophia Mauboy and Kaitlyn Armstrong their only goalkickers for the match.

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WARATAH 1.1 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.2 (14)
ST MARY’S 1.1 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 2.9 (21)

GOALS:

Waratah: L. Miceli 2
St Mary’s: S. Stevens, I. Porter

BEST:

Waratah: N/A
St Mary’s: J. Anderson, J. Bryant, S. Peris, A. Melnikas, E. Shannon, S. Stevens

St Mary’s won out by seven points against Waratah under changing weather conditions on Sunday afternoon, keeping the Saints alive in the race for a second finals chance. Both sides went goalless in the second half after booting a goal apiece in each of the first two terms, with the Saints’ greater weight of scoring opportunity seeing them edge ahead 2.9 (21) to 2.2 (14) by game’s end.

Lisa Miceli backed up her nine-goal haul from last week with both of her side’s two majors this time out, while Isabelle Porter and Shakirah Stevens finished as St Mary’s only goalkickers. Jasmine Anderson put in another best afield shift for the Saints, who were held up strongly in defence by the likes of Shailyn Peris and Eliza Shannon.

Bye: Pint

Image Credit: Aaron Black/AFLNT Media