Bombers end the season in style
Tiwi Bombers send Southern Districts packing
THE Tiwi Bombers rejoiced while elimination finalists Southern Districts went into crisis mode yesterday.
Tiwi won their first official game of the 2016-17 season at TIO Stadium where they beat the Crocodiles by 14 points, 15.13 (103) to 13.11 (89).
The loss sends Districts into another finals campaign on the back of a loss, meaning several changes at the selection table this week.
Their handball game and Tiwi’s traditional rebound football dominated a first half where 12 goals were scored.
Will Farrer booted three goals in the first quarter on the back of some good delivery from debutants Robert Bull and Brandon Rusca.
But any thoughts of a Farrer demolition were quashed by a Tiwi side desperate to finish a disappointing season on a good note.
Ross Tungatalum’s goal from the boundary line 10 minutes into the game was a sign of things to come.
The man they call “Rocco” went on to win the Bombing of Darwin commemorative football as the best player on the ground with five matchwinning goals.
Jason Puruntatameri celebrated his 100th game in style, booting a miraculous goal in the third term when he ran down from full back and wheeled on to his left foot to goal from 40m.
Districts began to chase red and black jumpers from the early minutes of the third quarter when Bradley Palipuaminni, Jerome Tipuamantimirri and Joe Burke began to run and use the football to their advantage.
A six-goal-to-two third quarter won the game for the Bombers, their first official win of the season after their Round 16 win over Palmerston was lost in the league’s boardrooms.
“We’ve been a bit lucky with player milestones,” a smiling Tiwi’s coach Wayne Worden said in the packed change rooms post game.
“We won with Roy (Kantilla’s) 150th the previous week and now Jason’s 100th. Hopefully, the foundations have been set for next year.”
Districts boss Shannon Rusca was not a happy chap after the final siren, publicly blasting his players while waiting for the Wanderers players to run on the ground for their clash with Palmerston.
Debutants Brandon Rusca and Robert Bull were outstanding for the Crocodiles, Rusca booting goals in the third and last quarters with the precision of a veteran.
But his coach and uncle Shannon pointed his anger at the older players.
“We’ve got some blokes who are senior players that are not up to senior standard; they are not up to standard and let each other down today,” Rusca told the Sunday Territorian.
“They consistently make excuses when it’s quite embarrassing when they put in insipid performances like that,” he said.