World Footy News

Round 10 of the NTFL season wrapped up in Darwin yesterday with the St Mary’s team ending the Buffaloes’ winning streak, the Palmerston Magpies upsetting the top team, Wanderers finally getting a solid win on the board and the Tiwi Bombers (barely) keeping their finals hopes alive.

The match of the day was certainly billed at the St Mary’s Saints and Darwin Buffaloes clash. Both were locked in a three way battle for top spot and the winner would certainly hold a psychological advantage come finals time. The Buffaloes won the first and last quarters, keeping their final quarter record of fighting back alive, but the damage was done by the Saints with eight goals to one across the middle two quarters. The win sees St Mary’s now alone at the top of the ladder and well placed to seek another flag. For the Buffaloes, their seven match winning streak has ended, but the incentive remains to stay in the finals race.

Final Score: St Mary’s Saints 12 15 87 d Darwin Buffaloes 8 9 57

The Palmerston Magpies produced the upset of the round at TIO Stadium on Saturday night when they stunned ladder leader Southern Districts. The highly fancied Crocs got out of the blocks well with a seven goal first quarter, but from there it was the Magpies ruling the day kicking eleven goals to three for the rest of the day to win by 24 points. Southern Districts relinquished top spot, but can’t blame anyone else after kicking one goal eight behinds in the final quarter and blowing any potential fight back.

Final Score: Palmerston Magpies 15 12 102 d Southern Districts Crocs 10 18 78

Wanderers had experienced a heartbreaking few weeks, coming off four consecutive losses – two of which were by less than a goal. They needed a win desperately to stay in the finals race and achieved just that, downing Waratah Warriors by 28 points. Waratah led narrowly at both quarter time and half time, but a ten goal second half from Wanderers saw them pull safely away to a much needed victory.

Final Score: Wanderers Eagles 13 9 87 d Waratah Warriors 9 5 59

The Tiwi Bombers’ season was slipping away rapidly and they had to find a way to get over a hot and cold Nightcliff Tigers outfit. But the Tiwi boys announced their intentions early with a withering eight goal first quarter. The 41 point quarter time lead set the tone for the day and Nightcliff just didn’t have the answers, until very late in the match, to hold the Bombers at bay. The win sees the Bombers leap frog the Tigers into sixth place and now just a game outside the top five (but with a marginally better percentage that the Palmerston Magpies). They are now a distinct chance to see finals action if they can maintain the rage and keep their best team on the field. The pressure now rises for the Nightcliff crew to bounce back next weekend.

Final Score: Tiwi Bombers 23 15 159 d Nightcliff Tigers 13 9 87

Next weekend is the last before the Christmas/New Year break and sees Nightcliff take on Waratah, the Tiwi Bombers meet Darwin Buffaloes, St Mary’s clashes with Palmerston and a desperate Wanderers must go head to head with Southern Districts in perhaps the match of the round.