Valiant Tigers haven’t a prayer against Saints

THE St Marys machine continues to roll on after outlasting another NTFL premiership challenger at TIO Stadium last night.

Saints extended their lead at every change to run over Nightcliff 20.12 (132) to 12.5 (77) and head into the Christmas/new year break undefeated after 11 rounds.

Captain Peter Macfarlane, who led the side brilliantly with six goals, said the club had earned their rest as they look to come back even stronger for a blockbuster top-of-the-table clash against Wanderers in the new year.

‘‘We are stoked to get the win. We were hoping, coming into this game that with nine in a row, we could . . . go into the break undefeated.

‘‘ It’s just a credit to the boys’ hard work. We’ve had a solid pre- season and our training has been really good up until this point, and I think the boys have really earned the break just to fre- shen up and really come home hard after Christmas.

‘‘I think we are just really lucky with the group of guys we’ve got — we have a lot of experienced boys that have played a lot of footy together and we just push each other.’’

The Tigers led at the halfway mark of the first quarter but Saints booted four in a row to open up a 20-point lead at the first change.

Daniel Dzufer and Ross Carpenter got the Tigers back in the contest early in the second but again St Marys had the answers. Macfarlane chipped in with three for the term as they stretched their lead to 33 points before finishing off in the last quarter with four goals to one.

Macfarlane and Justin van Unen (five goals) stretched the Nightcliff defence while their midfield depth ensured the supply was at its consistent best.

Dzufer (three goals) was a solid contributor for the Tigers, who maintained third spot on the ladder despite the loss.