Thunder roll Aspley as Sambono stands tall
TWO brilliant goals to athletic forward Adam Sambono were the highlights of the NT Thunder’s impressive 19.11 (125) to 9.14 (68) win over Aspley in NEAFL Round 1 action at TIO Stadium last night.
Sambono gave the hosts an early 12-point lead over their archrivals, after the springheeled Buffaloes star intercepted a Blake Nelis kick before running away to goal with his left foot.
That set the tone for a dom- inant performance against the Territory’s conquerors from last year’s elimination final, the Daly River product going on to boot six goals for the night.
The 20-year-old kicked another scorching goal nearing halftime, selling a dummy to Daniel Henderson by faking to kick off his left side, then snapping accurately from his right boot.
Both were the pick of the hosts’ nine first-half goals which gave them a 24-point lead at the main break, but there were more great majors to come. The Thunder, featuring a combined 11 St Mary’s and Wanderers players from the NTFL grand final two weeks ago, showed no signs of fatigue for most of the match.
They came to play against the team they beat by one point in the 2015 grand final.
Green Machine full forward Darren Ewing showed great strength to shrug off his opposites for two of his three firsthalf goals.
And Ewing’s third – a beautiful kick from 45m out right on halftime – gave the NT THUNDER V ASPLEY BEST hosts a four-goal lead. Saints teammate Cam Ilett’s tackling was intense and his kicking crisp all around the ground and Neil Vea Vea was once again a workhorse in the ruck.
It was an excellent left-foot kick from 2017 Chaney Medallist Ilett out in front of Ryan Smith which set up Sambono’s third major.
That gave the hosts a 26point lead in the second quarter.
The third term started with more brilliant six-pointers, Aspley’s Thomas Rudolph 4.0 9.2 18.8 19.11 1.4 4.8 8.9 9.14 GOALS UMPIRES somehow snapping a major with the ball hovering over the boundary line.
And young NT speedster Nick Yarran bent in an excellent banana goal for his first major in Thunder colours.
Thunder defender Daniel Weetra had a hand in two goals late in the third quarter as his team kicked away, the second after a good hand pass off the ground which set up Eagles teammate Jarred Erlandson.
Aspley came back in a competitive final quarter.