TIWI INTO FINALS
Meteoric rise for Bombers
THE Tiwi Bombers have completed a meteoric rise from NTFL Premier League wooden spooners to finalists after producing a stunning 51point thumping of Waratah at Tracy Village yesterday.
A blistering seven-goal-toone opening quarter was enough to book the Bombers a finals ticket, with Waratah never recovering from the initial onslaught.
Tiwi now faces reigning premiers St Mary’s in a mouth-watering elimination final clash this Saturday.
In a significant contrast to last week, the Bombers handled the wet conditions better than their opponents and finished with eight individual goalscorers in an impressive team effort.
Jack Munkara had the ball on a string on the wing for Tiwi, while Adam Tipungwuti set up many attacking forays off a half forward flank and elite sharpshooter Austin Wonaeamirri (four goals) provided a solid target up forward.
Waratah simply had no answer to Tiwi’s hard running and sublime skills, with Jason Puruntatameri and Michael Dunn providing exceptional rebound from the backline and ruckman Gary Puruntatameri kicking two midair freak goals from contests up forward.
The competition’s in-form midfielder Dion Munkara started the match like a house on fire, racking up countless possessions early before succumbing to what looked like a serious ankle injury in the second quarter.
However, Tiwi coach Brenton Toy was confident his gun onballer would recover in time to take his place for the Bombers’ blockbuster this Saturday.
“He was walking around after the game and bearing weight on the ankle,” Toy told the Sunday Territorian.
“They said to me he could have come back on if we needed but we thought it would be better to rest him.”
Toy said he was proud that his playing group had produced one of its most complete performances for the season.
“We managed to sustain it for the whole four quarters so I’m really proud of that effort,” he said.
“Jason Puruntatameri down back was great for us, anything that came down there he was all over it and another fella down there, Michael Dunn, he was rarely beaten one-on-one.
“Through the midfield, Jack Munkara was good, Patty Heenan was good and Dion (Munkara) was exceptional when he was in there.
“Gary Puruntatameri kicked two freak goals up forward, so he was dangerous, Adam Tipungwuti was also really dangerous.
“It’s difficult to pinpoint a select few and to be honest that’s how you win games, when you’ve got that full team effort.”
Waratah would be disappointed to end its season in such a manner but Sam Weddell, Sam Godden and Matthew Blake never stopped trying all day for the Warriors.