WITH one side breaking their duck for season 2019, another remains undefeated having knocked off their closest challenger to end Round 6 action. All four games were close, with the old names we have come to expect all putting their hands up at vital moments.

TIWI BOMBERS 14.10 (94)
ST MARYS 10.13 (73)

GOALS:
Tiwi Bombers: G. Cunningham 3, P. Puautjimi 2, K. Kantilla 2, S. Munkara 2, W. Huddleston, M. Cooper, A. Wonaeamirri, J. Munkara, K. Darcy.
St Marys: N. Paredes 2, B. Ah Mat 2, M. Wilkinson 2, R. Mc Murray, J. McMurtrie, B. Rioli, S. Lampton.

BEST:
Tiwi Bombers: L. Wale-Buxton, M. Cooper, J. Puruntatameri, P. Puautjimi, B. Palipuaminni, S. Munkara
St Marys: M. Rioli Jnr, N. Paredes, S. Rioli, B. Ah Mat, S. Edwards, J. Long

Tiwi Bombers finally broke its season duck with a spirited win over an in-form St Marys side to open the weekend’s action. The Saints gave it their best shot, trailing for most of the match and by 16 points at the half. But the Bombers were determined to break through and held their position, running out 21-point winners to scrape off the bottom of the ladder.

16 year-old star Jeffrey Simon earned a rising star nomination in just his second game for Tiwi, attacking the ball hard and following the example of idols Austin Wonaeamirri and Simon Munkara well. Munkara was one of three players to claim two goals alongside Pio Puautjimi and Kim Kantilla, while Gerrard Cunningham was the standout goalkicker with three. For St Marys, a couple of prodigies with famous names again stood out, with Maurice Rioli Jnr claiming best afield honours and Brayden Rioli again hitting the scoreboard. TAC Cup graduate Nathaniel Paredes was up to his usual standard in booting two goals alongside Braxton Ah Mat, while Shannon Rioli and Jack Long were also among the best.

The win sees Tiwi climb to second bottom, equal with Wanderers on a sole win, while St Marys fall to sixth as the only side with two wins.

WANDERERS 6.8 (44)
PALMERSTON MAGPIES 8.15 (63)

GOALS:
Wanderers: K. Fejo 2, N. Mansell 2, J. Jeffrey, T. Motlop.
Palmerston: K. Emery 3, P. Nash, S. Talbot, A. Davey, J. Lampton, S. Brock.

BEST:
Wanderers: W. Yunupingu, D. Weetra, N. Mansell, M. Totham, A. Motlop
Palmerston: N/A

Palmerston snared its second win on the trot with a close win over now-bottom side Wanderers at TIO Stadium. It was hardly comfortable for the Magpies, who were wasteful in front of goal in the first half but remained unpunished as they maintained a steady enough lead to see out the game 19 points ahead.

Kyle Emery was again the star for Palmerston, continuing his prolific scoring form with a bag of three. The Magpies’ usual suspects were also amongst it, with Matthew Dennis strong in the ruck, Alwyn Davey thriving alongside brother Aaron, and Rodney Baird putting in another solid shift. Nook Mansell was one of the best afield for the Eagles, booting two goals along with the dangerous Keelan Fejo. Youngster Joel Jeffrey again found himself in the goals, while Winston Yunupingu and Daniel Weetra were judged their best.

Palmerston rise into the finals spots with the win, equal fourth with Waratah. Meanwhile, Wanderers fall to the bottom of the pile with another loss, sitting below Tiwi by percentage.

DARWIN BUFFALOES 12.11 (83)
WARATAH 10.10 (70)

GOALS:
Darwin: A. Sambono 4, J. Clark 2, I. Palmer, S. Ahmat, B. Mitchell, R. O’Sullivan.
Waratah: H. Kerinaiua 2, C. Barrett 2, J. Neagle, T. Mosquito, B. Rayson, S. Weddell, M. Blake, L. Collihole.

BEST:
Darwin: A. Sambono, J. Anderson, M. Firrito, M. Campbell, R. O’Sullivan, B. Mitchell
Waratah: A. Ankers, T. Arundell, T. Mosquito, C. Barrett, J. Neagle

Darwin Buffaloes bounced back from last week’s defeat with a strong win over fellow finals hopeful, Waratah. Holding a one to two goal lead for most of the game and at every break, the Buffaloes had enough in the tank to answer all the Warriors’ challenges.

The AFL class and experience of Joe Anderson and former Roos Matt Campbell and Michael Firrito shone through, with all three named in the best for Darwin. It was young jet Adam Sambono who proved the biggest handful though, booting a game-high four goals to be named best afield, while Jackson Clark was their only other multiple goalkicker with two. Abraham Ankers was again the best for Waratah, with Cameron Barrett booting two majors to also be named among the best six players, too. Jaxon Neagle, son of late Essendon great Merv, also impressed in his second game, finding the goals and zipping around the gaff alongside the likes of Timothy Mosquito.

Darwin now sits in equal second with Waratah, down on percentage but a game clear of weekend challengers, Waratah in fourth.

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS 9.10 (64)
NIGHTCLIFF 7.5 (47)

GOALS:
Southern Districts: J. Koopman 2, M. Mummery 2, W. Farrer, L. Ogden, C. Gallio, S. Thorne, D. Staunton,
Nightcliff: M. Bricknell, B. Filo, T. Melville, S. Wilson, L. Holt-Fitz, D. Butcher, F. James.

BEST:
Southern Districts: C. Gallio, S. Thorne, D. Staunton, C. McAdam, S. Smith, S. Martin
Nightcliff: L. Holt-Fitz, C. Holmes, D. Bowles, S. Wilson, B. Filo, S. Deery

Southern Districts maintained their perfect record in season 2019 with a strong win over fellow premiership contenders, Nightcliff in the game of the round. Coming off a rousing win over third-placed Darwin, the Tigers were hoping to claim another win over their close table rivals but the Crocs proved too good once again. Having conceded a first break lead, Southern Districts responded well from there, on, chipping away against constant Nightcliff challenges. The margin got out to 17 points in the end, one of the biggest of the game to see it out.

Draft hopeful Michael Mummery was one of two multiple goalkickers on the day alongside Jess Koopman with two majors each. Clinton Gallio was named best afield in front of the ever-consistent Shane Thorne and Dean Staunton for the Crocs, with all three also finding the goals. Charles McAdam was another to impress, while youngster Liam Holt-Fitz was the best for Nightcliff alongside the likes of Clayton Holmes, Shaun Wilson and Brodie Filo, while goal-machine Trent Melville was down on his usual best but still managed a goal.

The win pits the Crocs two games clear atop the NTFL table, while Nightcliff are their closest challengers, equal second with four wins alongside Darwin.