Buffettes whip Waratah
DARWIN blew five-time reigning premiers Waratah away in a pulsating first-half assault yesterday to firm as NTFL Women’s Premier League flag favourites.
The qualifying final was as good as over by the main break, with the Tiwi Islandsbased Cunningham sisters – Jessica and Kimberley – Machaelia Roberts and Isabelle Por- ter tearing the game apart at TIO Stadium.
A six-goal second quarter, where the Tahs were kept scoreless, left the Buffettes 42 points up, and was irrefutable proof their 43-point, preChristmas caning of the same opponents was no fluke.
This time the margin was 54 points, as Kylie Duggan, Crystal Browne, captain Lucy Adam, Danielle Trindle-Price and Tikesa Docherty-Cole also ran riot for Matt coached Darwin.
The winner of today’s elimination final between St Mary’s and Tracy Village stands between the Buffettes and a grand final place.
“I’m very proud of them and we’ve worked very hard to get where we are,” Large said.
“I want it bad, but the thing about it is the girls want it more – and that’s what counts. It needs to happen on the field. Large- So let’s enjoy the ride, and hopefully we can win one more game next week.”
The only asterisk on the result was the absence of Waratah regulars Lisa Roberts, Hayley Edge, Amy Lorenzo and Hannah Bebbington.
But Lorenzo (knee), the competition’s leading goalkicker, is done for the season.
Victoria McDonald also suffered a game and potentially season-ending knee in- jury late in the opening term.
The consistently excellent Alicia Stanley was superb in the middle – even after a heavy collision with teammate Clare Harper – while defenders Felicity Ward and Nicki Palmer fought hard.
Tahs coach Shaun O’Leary remains adamant his team can turn the tables on Darwin.
“The second quarter in particular they (outplayed us),” O’Leary said. “That’s been a bit of a worry of ours all year; we haven’t been able to put together four quarters of footy.
“For three quarters we more or less matched them, and we’re positive about that. If we put four quarters together, we can go with them.”
The Buffettes’ pace and teamwork were standout qualities, along with their ability to pressure Waratah, an area Large said was their primary pre-match focus.