NIGHTCLIFF has leapfrogged PINT into third place on the NTFL Men’s Premier League ladder after a 19-point win over Waratah on Friday night. With two home-and-away rounds left to play, the result means Waratah is also at risk of slipping out of the top five as Tiwi Bombers hunt fifth spot.

>> SCROLL for the results, ladder and fixture

Seven unanswered first term goals propelled the Tigers to victory, though the Warriors fought back hard to be in with a sniff come three-quarter time. At just 12 points in arrears having been 46 behind at one point, Waratah’s unlikely comeback ran out of gas in the 12.7 (79) to 9.6 (60) defeat.

Petros Politis led all comers with 30 disposals, while Brandan Parfitt (25 disposals, five clearances) and Mitchell Trewhella (22 and seven) were strong at the coalface for Nightcliff. Parfitt was also one of three Tigers to boot two goals. Marly McGregor finished with three majors to lead the scoring effort.

Waratah was spearheaded by Geelong native Lucas Gray, who bagged his second four-goal haul of the season. Ruckman Arnold Kirby (28 hitouts) did his best to give the likes of Cody Szust (20 disposals) and Scott Carlin (19 disposals, four clearances) sufficient service at the stoppages.

Nightcliff is now level on points with PINT but boasts a superior percentage, good enough for a double chance place. St Mary’s remains half a game clear, while ladder leader Southern Districts has maintained its buffer in pole position after both sides registered 100-plus point wins in Round 16.

The Crocs kept Wanderers goalless in a thumping 124-point victory, led by seven goals to Beau Schwarze. Ex-AFL trio Steven Motlop (32 disposals), Jed Anderson (28 disposals, three goals), and Quinton Narkle (25 disposals, three goals) also ran riot in the big win.

St Mary’s saluted to the tune of 129 points over Darwin to keep its strong run of form rolling. VFL recruit Curtis McCarthy slotted five goals, while Jackson Braunthal, Dylan Landt (34 disposals and two), and Josh Smithson (29 and two) all racked up plenty of the ball while impacting the scoreboard.

In the final match of the round, Tiwi kept its finals hopes alive after surging past Palmerston. The Bombers looked in trouble at six points down heading into the final break, but went on to win by 22 after slamming on five fourth-quarter goals to the Magpies’ one.

The free-scoring Bombers had skipper Kim Kantilla, Willie Rioli, and Jack Steel all snare three goals in the win. Braedon McLean (27 disposals) and Tanna Blackney-Noter (12 clearances) were also integral in Tiwi remaining just two points off the top five, albeit with a bye in hand.

NIGHTCLIFF 7.2 | 8.6 | 10.6 | 12.7 (79)
WARATAH 0.0 | 3.2 | 8.6 | 9.6 (60)

GOALS:
Nightcliff: M. McGregor 3, B. Kennedy 2, S. Linke 2, B. Parfitt 2, B. Bailey, J. Lanyon, C. Polkinghorne
Waratah: L. Gray 4, S. Carlin, J. Hillis, R. Hutchins, S. Kenna, J. Stevens

BEST:
Nightcliff: M. Trewhella, B. Parfitt, R. Montgomerie, M. Glover, B. Kennedy, J. Peris
Waratah: L. Gray, A. Kirby, C. Szust, D. Collis, B. Carroll, S. Carlin

ROUND 16 RESULTS

Nightcliff Tigers 12.7 (79) def. Waratah 9.6 (60)
Darwin Buffaloes 3.4 (22) def. by St Mary’s 22.19 (151)
Southern Districts 19.15 (129) def. Wanderers 0.5 (5)
Tiwi Bombers 13.11 (89) def. Palmerston Magpies 10.7 (67)

Bye: PINT

NTFL MPL LADDER

1. Southern Districts | 11-2 | 176.2% | 46 points
2. St Mary’s | 10-3 | 201.3% | 42 points
3. Nightcliff Tigers | 9-3-1 | 136.6% | 40 points
4. PINT | 9-3-1 | 130.2% | 40 points
5. Waratah | 7-6 | 113.6% | 30 points
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6. Tiwi Bombers | 7-8 | 98.0% | 28 points
7. Darwin Buffaloes | 3-10 | 55.5% | 14 points
8. Wanderers | 2-12 | 43.8% | 10 points
9. Palmerston Magpies | 1-12 | 57.0% | 6 points

ROUND 17 FIXTURE

Nightcliff Tigers vs. Wanderers
Saturday February 7, 4:00pm @ TIO Stadium

PINT vs. Darwin Buffaloes
Saturday February 7, 6:00pm @ DXC Arena

St Mary’s vs. Waratah
Saturday February 7, 6:30pm @ TIO Stadium

Southern Districts vs. Palmerston Magpies
Sunday February 8, 3:30pm @ Norbuilt Oval

Bye: Tiwi Bombers