DARWIN Buffettes have leapfrogged Palmerston and Tiwi Bombers into fourth place on the NTFL Women’s ladder after a thumping 110-point win over Wanderers in Round 14. The Buffs booted eight goals either side of half time while keeping the Muk Muks goalless for the seventh time this season.

>> SCROLL to see the Round 14 scores & ladder

An astonishing 12 individual goalkickers got on the board, including four who managed two apiece. One of them was former Geelong and Richmond AFLW player Stephanie Williams, who was named best afield for the victors, who bounced back from a one-point loss to the undefeated PINT.

Darwin, along with the Magpies and Bombers, are in a three-pronged race for the last two finals spots. All three teams lay claim to six wins, though the Buffettes’ percentage booster catapulted them up the order. They will have four more rounds to maintain their spot in the top five.

Meanwhile, Tiwi fell down to sixth spot after an upset loss to Waratah. The Warriors were able to stifle the usually dynamic Bombers, keeping them goalless to half time and consolidating the 23-point win thereafter. Both sides posted three goals apiece in a more free-flowing second half.

Jamilla Cranny and Jo-Anna Baltais were named Waratah’s best players along with the well credentialed Angela Foley. Jenna Singh Lippo bagged a game-high two goals, while Sarah D’Arcy was the Bombers’ best. The result makes next week’s clash between Tiwi and Palmerston all the more vital.

The Magpies fell four points short of knocking off second placed St Mary’s , having led by five at the main break of a low-scoring affair. The Saints bounced back to take the lead and never looked back, now boasting an eight-point lead ahead of the Nightcliff in third.

The Tigers were felled by pole-sitters PINT in another top five clash over the weekend. After trailing at the first two breaks, the Queen Ants powered on in the second half to run out 17-point victors and remain undefeated. Amy Chittick booted three goals for PINT, who have a bye in Round 15.

NTFLW ROUND 14 RESULTS

St Mary’s 3.6 (24) def. Palmerston 3.2 (20)
Darwin Buffettes 16.15 (111) def. Wanderers 0.1 (1)
Nightcliff 6.6 (42) def. by PINT 9.5 (59)
Waratah 6.9 (45) def. Tiwi Bombers 3.4 (22)

NTFLW LADDER

1. PINT (13-0, 262.8%)
2. St Mary’s (11-2, 310.2%)
3. Nightcliff (9-3, 241.4%)
4. Darwin Buffettes (6-6, 172.2%)
5. Palmerston (6-6, 162.0%)
6. Tiwi Bombers (6-7, 144.7%)
7. Waratah (3-9, 53.2%)
8. Southern Districts (2-10, 56.2%)
9. Wanderers (0-13, 3.3%)

ROUND 15 FIXTURE

Friday January 24:

Darwin Buffettes vs. St Mary’s
6:00pm @ TIO Stadium

Saturday January 25:

Palmerston Magpies vs. Tiwi Bombers
12:00pm @ Cazalys Arena

Southern Districts vs. Nightcliff
2:00pm @ Norbuilt Oval

Wanderers vs. Waratah
5:00pm @ Gardens Oval

Bye: PINT