Northern rampage has Sharks in box seat

THE Southport Sharks stand one game away from making history on two fronts.

A win over Redland at Fankhauser Reserve this Saturday will ensure the Sharks finish on top of the NEAFL ladder for the first time and also earn them hosting rights for their first finals game.

It comes after Southport’s 19.16 (130) to 7.8 (50) win over the Northern Territory Thunder at TIO Stadium in Darwin on Saturday night.

The win meant Southport kept its place at the top of the ladder on percentage ahead of Sydney, Aspley and Sydney University, who have recorded the same number of wins as the Sharks.

“It was a fantastic win and I’m really happy with the way it panned out,” Sharks coach Stephen Daniel said.

“You never quite know what you’re going to get against the Northern Territory in Darwin so it was good to come away and to get the win. We did the basics really well, stuck to the process and we got it done.”

Daniel praised the performance of returning midfielder Andrew Boston as well as his co-captain Seb Tape, who kept the NEAFL’s all-time leading goalkicker, Darren Ewing, goalless in a mammoth defensive display.

It’s only the second time this season Ewing, who has slotted 619 goals in his NEAFL career, has failed to kick a goal. Tom Wilkinson booted five for Southport at the other end.

“We sent Seb down back on Boofa (Ewing) and he played a really good game,” Daniel said.