SPARTANS TAKE OUT NTFL DIV 2
THE Nightcliff Spartans were never troubled at TIO Stadium yesterday on their way to claiming the division two premiership against Jabiru.
Spartans playing-coach Chris Smith claimed best on ground in a 9.10 (64) to 2.6 (18) rout of the Bombers in wet conditions.
The match was set up in the first 10 minutes when Smith kicked two majors. And from that point the Spartans were headed for undoubted glory.
“We had a focus on having a really good start especially in the wet. So to get those early goals on the board, whether it was myself kicking them or someone else, that was what we wanted,” Smith told the Sunday Territorian.
“It feels fantastic; it was a great effort from the boys. We really stuck to our structures and came away with a terrific win.”
Smith was dominant on the ball and finished the match with another goal in the fourth term, while Dylan Cooper was instrumental in a first quarter that Nightcliff won by 32 points.
Jaise Coleman was strong in the ruck and, off halfback, William Price stood out.
Jabiru got the better of the second term but couldn’t capit- alise on the scoreboard, kicking only one goal.
Malcolm Simpson was solid defensively for the Bombers, while Samson Henry and Mickitja Rotumah-Onus found some of the football.
However, they played too sideways on the soaked surface. The Spartans made the most of Jabiru’s turnovers, kicking two goals in each of the final two quarters to win easily.
Smith said when a down- pour occurred an hour before kick-off, his game plan adjusted accordingly.
“We had a few outside midfielders who were starting on the ball early and we changed that to have a few bigger bodies around the contest,” he said.
“We knew they probably wouldn’t like having it contested early. We had a real focus on making sure that we cracked in head over the ball.”