STILL-SMARTING TIGERS PUT MUK MUKS TO SWORD
A NIGHTCLIFF side with a point to prove ramped up the pressure and intensity to record an 18.11 (119) to 6.7 (43) win over a mostly-contained Wanderers outfit at TIO Stadium.
The Tigers had all the running early on, and they were rewarded for their efforts with two early goals each from Jess Budarick and Cam Ilett.
Their pressure game was equally as dominant in limiting the Muk Muks’ natural run-and-carry game, leaving them scoreless after the opening quarter.
The Eagles worked themselves back into contention in the second period courtesy of Warwick Williams coming forward to boot their opening goal.
Wanderers had other chances through livewires Beau O’Connell and Dray Thompson.
But the Nightcliff defence, led by Daniel Bowles, kept them mostly contained. The scoreboard blew out further as the game went on as Shaun Wilson and Kyle Emery added their names to the goalscoring run.
It was those two fed by a midfield containing two-time Nichols Medal winner Brodie Filo and key import Thomas North that took advantage of the Muk Muks’ defensive lapses.
And a brilliant snap goal on an angle from Ryan Mu gave the Nightcliff side a safe buffer.
“After the first-round defeat to St Mary’s we really wanted to respond and we were able to do that last week, and it was really pleasing to do it in consecutive weeks,” Wilson said.
“We identified that Wanderers rely heavily on their run-and-carry, they have a lot of fleet-footed players and like to move the ball quick.
“It was just about nullifying that facet of their game and being able to put bumper-bar blocks on their most dangerous players.
“Our ball use in transition from defence to attack was also really good and we were able to play the conditions well.
“We know we have St Mary’s next who are now three on the trot.
“But we feel ready to stand up to them.”
Nightcliff: 4.2 6.6 14.9 18.11 (119) Wanderers: 0.0 2.2 4.4 6.7 (43) Goals – Nightcliff: C Ilett 5 K Emery 3 J Budarick 2 S Wilson 2 T North 2 L Holt-Fitz R Mu B Filo N Howe. Wanderers: W Williams 2 D Shillabeer E Simpson M Garton K Fejo.
Best – Nightcliff: S Wilson K Emery D Bowles T North C Ilett.
Wanderers: W Williams K Fejo D Shillabeer B O’Connell E Simpson.