NTFL LADDER
ST Mary’s strangled the life out of Southern Districts – restricting them to just two goals – to extend their NTFL winning streak to a fantastic 14 at TIO Stadium last night.
Darren Ewing made a triumphant return to the Saints’ line-up, booting seven goals in his team’s 18.15 (123) to 2.6 (18) thrashing.
It was the imposing full forward’s first Premier League match since December 3 and he barely missed a beat.
The Crocodiles just had no answers for the brutal physicality and blinding speed of the reigning premiers.
Saints coach Rick Nolan thought the Crocs would throw everything at his team, with Districts playing to keep a hold of third spot, which would give them a second chance in the finals.
He wanted a tough challenge leading into the approaching post-season but the game was effectively over at quarter time, with Saints holding a 23-point lead in the slippery conditions.
Districts kicked a goal in the first term and they could only manage one more for the game, late in the fourth term.
The second quarter was a
Men’s Premier League St Mary’s 60 (207.61) Nightcliff 60 (168.31) Wanderers 40 (97.95) Southern Districts 36 (99.54) Darwin Buffaloes 32 (94.15) Waratah 30 (90.25) Palmerston 8 (46.93) Tiwi Bombers 2 (66.15) dull affair, with neither team kicking a major.
But in the second half, the Saints found their mojo again.
Shannon Rioli was outstanding in the forward line alongside Ewing, booting three goals. He took a terrific strong mark on opposite Charles McAdam after a high kick from brother Ben Rioli, before kicking accurately, to give his team a 59-point lead in the third term.
Despite the wide margin, there was plenty of spice in this game.
Saints’ Michael Coombes and Districts’ Jared Brennan got reported for fighting, and Justin Wilson was reported for a hit on the Crocs’ Zachary Smith.
Jackson Geary, Karl Lohde, Jack Long, Nathaniel Paredes and the speed of Anthony Wilson, Francis Kinthari and Ben Rioli also stood out for the Green Machine.
Paredes showed great courage to win a hard contest with Travis Carroll in the third quarter, before booting through a major to give his team a 52-point lead.
The top five – likely to stay the same after the last round next weekend – can be divided into two sections when assessing the premiership credentials of those teams.
Saints and Nightcliff are a long way out in front, and the next-best Wanderers, Southern Districts and Buffaloes have a lot of catching up to do in a short period of time.