Buffs all heart in dogged victory
ANY doubts on the heart and soul of the 2018-19 Buffaloes were dispelled last night when they beat long-time rivals St Mary’s by 11 points in an NTFL classic.
The Buffaloes led at every change in their 11.7 (73) to 8.14 (62) win despite surges by St Mary’s that looked capable of taking the game away from them.
Adam Sambono’s three firstquarter goals from a series of fast leads, long kicks and opportunism got the Buffaloes on the road early.
Ryan O’Sullivan’s marking and strength at ruck contests combined with the run and guile of playing coach Matt Campbell was more ammunition for a Buffalo side looking to snap a two-game losing streak.
Desperate for a forward target, Saints placed Tom Frawley across half forward in the second quarter and he responded with two long goals at the Michael Long Centre end to keep Saints in touch at the main break.
It took a Sambono snap right on the half time siren to snatch back the lead for Buffs in what had been a fierce contest between the two traditional rivals.
The Buffaloes had a goal on the board in the first minute of the third term through Campbell and apart from a mid quarter surge from Saints when Ben Taylor and Mathias Liddy kicked goals, controlled the all important quarter.
Some superb defence from Damien Williams, Jordon Briston, Antonio James, Jalen Clarke and O’Sullivan and fierce tackling from both sides made it a tremendous spectacle.
Maurice Rioli Jr copped a heavy knock when trying to collect the ball from a contest in the middle of the ground.
But he returned to prevent what looked to be a certain Buffalo goal in the shadows of three quarter time when he ran 20 metres to smother a kick.
Rioli was the hero again when he goaled from an impossible angle to get Saints back to within two points early in the last term.
But a Jarrod Stokes goal, after a Steven Anderson tackle on Saint James Puautjimi, gained some breathing space for the Buffaloes.