THUNDER FIGHTS HARD IN DEFEAT

A FIGHTING loss to reigning NEAFL premier Southport on a rain-soaked Gold Coast yesterday had Territory Thunder coach Darren Reeves talking up his side’s 14-point defeat.

Thunder trailed all day before going down 7.14 (56) to 6.6 (42) on a playing surface that resembled a skating rink.

But Reeves was rapt with his players’ willingness to mix it with their Sharks opponents on a day when getting your body at the fall of the ball was paramount.

“It’s something we’ve been striving to achieve for a while,’’ Reeves said.

“And while the result does not look positive, it’s the way we’ve been able to train for a number of weeks and put it out on the ground that I’m pleased about.

“This is the brand of footy we need to teach our blokes and they need to do it on a regular basis, no matter what the situation.’’

Reeves said the side’s youth had been thrown in at the deep end and were responding.

“We’ve got a heap of young kids and whether they’re ready to play NEAFL, who knows, but gee whiz they’re standing up for us,’’ he added.

“We didn’t get the result last week or today, but our ability to compete for long periods is getting better and better.’’

Thunder had its chances in a last quarter where Ben Rioli’s goal and subsequent 50m penalty was the only one kicked in 33 minutes of contested football.

Nigel Lockyer Jr from a set shot and Dylan Barry on the run from 25m missed shots they would have kicked blindfolded in Darwin.

It meant the difference between an eight-point deficit and the 20 Rioli faced when he kicked Thunder’s sixth major.

Captain Abe Ankers (32 possessions) was superb, Nathaniel Paredes never gave up, Rioli was courage personified and Daniel Weetra and Ben Taylor across half back played their hearts out.