ST MARY’S has all but locked in a finals spot thanks to a vital victory over Darwin Buffaloes as the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) Men’s Premier League returned from the mid-season break. Sitting third and fourth respectively, the Saints boasted seven wins from 11 games with 28 points, while the Buffaloes had five wins and a draw from 10 games, and 22 points to-boot. In a finals-shaping match, it was the visitors who proved too strong, running away with a 14.10 (94) to 9.9 (63) win.

Darwin came into the match ready to play catchup on the top three sides, with a win able to move them to within two points of the third placed Saints. Everything seemed to be going to plan early for the home side, as they booted 3.3 to 1.2 in the opening quarter to race out to an early 13-point quarter time lead. Unfortunately they could not maintain the rage in the second term, as St Mary’s clicked into gear, slotting the only five goals of the term, to turn a 13-point deficit into a 17-point lead.

Needing to reset, the Buffaloes found the big sticks in the third term, but despite their best efforts, were still outscored by a hungry Saints outfit. Though the Buffs just about doubled their score, St Mary’s booted 4.2 to the home side’s 3.3 to extend the advantage to 22 points with a quarter to play. Though the Buffs could not miss in the final term by shooting 3.0, St Mary’s simply had too much firepower, booting 4.3 to blow the lead out beyond 30 points and come away with the 31-point victory to move 10 points clear in third.

Dominant goalkicker Jackson Calder slotted four goals, as Jack Landt (three), Braydyn Grenfell (two) and Joseph Salmon (two) all kicked multiple majors. Teenager Beau Tedcastle hit the scoreboard hit the scoreboard for the first time this season in his second game for the Saints, while captain Nathaniel Paredes, and Nathan Yarran completed the goalkickers. Ball-winner Kieren Parnell was again among the major contributors in the victory, with Riley Clamp and Xavier Vallejo also impressing for the winners.

Jonas Niki was a lone hand up forward for the Buffaloes in the loss, slotting three of his side’s nine majors. With the other six goals coming from individual goalkickers, Hassan Ahmat-Watkins and Kokwam Niki were able to convert a major as well as be named among the best. John Vrodos, Kevin Maroney and Aaron Stokes were steadfast despite the defeat.

In other results, top of the table Southern Districts piled on 30 scoring shots to 15 against Palmerston on the Crocs’ way to a dominant 10-goal win over the Magpies. Leigh Williams (four goals) and Jack Sexton (three) were the leading goalkickers, with West Australian Jye Bolton and Ronald Fejo also busy in the win. For the remaining two results, Waratah proved too good for PINT, recording a 27-point victory over the Green Ants, while Nightcliff leapfrogged the Magpies by holding on in a grind against Wanderers, 6.10 (46) to 6.8 (44).