SOUTHERN Districts has snatched top spot off PINT after thumping the Greenants by 71 points at TIO Stadium on Saturday evening. The Crocs’ third-consecutive victory saw them take advantage of PINT’s recent falter on either side of the break, having headed in off a draw with third-place Nightcliff.

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The result means Southern Districts remains the sole side to have beaten PINT this season, let alone twice having also saluted in Round 4. Accurate goalkicking kept the undermanned Greenants in with a shot at half time, trailing by only 14 points despite their nine fewer scoring shots.

A winning combination of stingy defence and rampant attack saw the Crocs get reward for effort after the main break. They kept PINT goalless while piling on nine majors to see out the victory with a dominant margin. Isiah Winder led the scoring with three majors, among 12 individual goalkicker.

PINT went into the top-of-the-table clash without frontline star James Rowe and ruckman Connor McDonald. It allowed the reigning premiers to take toll, with supply from big men Wyatt Ryan and Matthew Dennis seeing former-AFL mids Quinton Narkle and Jed Anderson dominate their domain.

There was plenty of feeling in the contest, too, especially after Tarryn Thomas was helped off the field having been brought down in a heavy tackle. Crocs teammate Will Rowlands also copped a hamstring injury in the second half, as his side looks forward to a meeting with Darwin in Round 14.

PINT will move on to face Tiwi Bombers in a potential danger game. The Bombers lost handily to St Mary’s in Saturday’s earlier fixture at TIO Stadium, but remains on the cusp of the top five. Meanwhile, cellar dweller Palmerston notched its first win of the season, and Nightcliff bounced back onto the winners list before its bye round.

PINT 2.0 | 5.0 | 5.1 | 5.3 (33)
SOUTHERN DISTRICTS 3.7 | 6.8 | 10.12 | 15.14 (104)

GOALS:
PINT: A. Fuller, J. Greenwood, J. Hayward, N. Spitiri, J. Trewin
Southern Districts: I. Winder 3, D. Barry 2, M. Bidmade, M. Dennis, W. Farrer, M. Johnston, S. Motlop, Q. Narkle, W. Rowlands, B. Rusca, B. Schwarze, M. Shannon

BEST:
PINT: J. Boyer, D. Campion, B. Ryan, J. Griffin, C. Wilson, M. Short
Southern Districts: M. Johnston, Q. Narkle, S. Motlop, C. Giddings, W. Ryan, B. Schwarze

ROUND 13 RESULTS

Tiwi Bombers 8.5 (53) def. by St Mary’s 20.13 (133)
PINT 5.3 (33) def. by Southern Districts 15.14 (104)
Palmerston Magpies 8.12 (60) def. Wanderers 5.5 (35)
Darwin Buffaloes 7.6 (48) def. by Nightcliff Tigers 9.9 (63)

Bye: Waratah 

NTFL MPL LADDER

1. Southern Districts | 9-2 | 155.79% | 38 points
2. PINT | 8-2-1 | 135.76% | 36 points
3. Nightcliff Tigers | 7-3-1 | 129.38% | 32 points
4. St Mary’s | 7-3 | 160.04% | 30 points
5. Waratah | 5-5 | 113.32% | 22 points
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6. Tiwi Bombers | 5-7 | 96.42% | 20 points
7. Darwin Buffaloes | 3-7 | 62.18% | 14 points
8. Wanderers | 2-9 | 53.65% | 10 points
9. Palmerston Magpies | 1-9 | 56.34% | 6 points

ROUND 14 FIXTURE

Saturday January 10

Darwin Buffaloes vs. Southern Districts @ TIO Stadium
Palmerston Magpies vs. Waratah @ TIO Stadium
PINT vs. Tiwi Bombers @ DXC Arena
Wanderers vs. St Mary’s @ TIO Stadium

Bye: Nightcliff Tigers