Depleted Nightcliff Tigers down Commerce Pints

Round 9 of the TPL men’s and women’s competition was a high-scoring affair with East’s dominating the pack. Recap some of the major talking points.

Round 9 of the Territory Premier League hockey men’s and women’s competition was full of action right across the board, recap some of the major talking points from the round below.

EAST DARWIN STORM WOMEN EXTEND UNBEATEN RUN

The reigning champions have furthered their undefeated streak to eight games.

It was a grand final rematch against Commerce Pints and the Storm were too good across the board, defeating their rivals in a 6-0 scoreline.

Boasting six different goalscorers, the victory was a true team performance with a litany of fast break attacking phases stifling the Zita Varatharajan, Emmanuel Clarke and Lisa Stevens’-less Pints.

“I thought we controlled the game pretty well our most pleasing thing was our defensive not conceding any goals and the way when we made a mistake we scrambled back and defended well,” Darwin’s coach Andrew Farmilo said on the victory.

“It was first versus second going into it; I had bit of a question mark in the first quarter after a scratch match against the 18s on Tuesday and if it would affect us, and the first quarter was tight.

“They (Commerce) created opportunities but we shut it down just in our defensive 25m rather than in the circle.”

East Darwin women have extended their unbeaten run eight. Picture: Elle Richardson/HockeyNT.

Impressed by his team’s willingness to maintain a high level of intensity and commitment each and every game, Farmilo put the winning form down to training and positive play.

“It’s just a more competitive group, they really enjoy the physicality of training and pushing themselves,” he said.

“It tends to come out in the game and everyone just has that desire to run there is no one in the team you need to push to get that extra effort, all driving to move forward and improve.”

GOAL SCORERS

East Darwin

Emily Chaffey, Madeline MacDonald, Isobel Cowell, Jessica Martin-Brown, Isobel O’Conor, Corrina Murray

ROUND 9 RESULTS

Men

Waratah 2 def. 1 Palmerston Saints

Nightcliff Tigers 5 def. 1 Banks

East Darwin 10 def. 2 Commerce Pints

Women

Waratah 0 drew 0 Palmerston Saints

Nightcliff Tigers 1 def. 0 Banks

East Darwin 6 def. 0 Commerce Pints

TPL hockey round 8: Depleted Nightcliff Tigers down Pints

UNDERMANNED TIGERS COME FROM BEHIND IN STATEMENT VICTORY

A determined Tigers outfit held off an early scare against Commerce in their 7-4 victory at the weekend.

The bottom of the table Pints fired in two early goals, courtesy of under-16 and 18s state representative Luka Best.

Nightcliff responded soon after with Stingers player Luke Broadway carving up the turf, netting a hat-trick to put his team back in the lead.

Despite Pints’ best efforts the Tigers proved too much of a force in front of goal, securing their sixth win of the season.

“With six senior players away for the weekend, we called on our club’s depth in quality juniors to fill the void,” Nightcliff’s coach David Skippings said.

“We had five under-16s join the team, all of which are capable of holding their own in premier league.

“We started slow and allowed commerce to score two quick goals.

“We found our rhythm and the juniors managed to adjust to the speed of the game and became instrumental in our comeback and eventual win.”

Nightcliff Tigers' Luke Broadway netted a hasty against Commerce in their TPL Men's Rd. 8 clash. Picture: Elle Richardson / NT Hockey.

Top performers

Tigers: Luke Broadway, Noah Lenior, Charlie Beath, Kade Kimlin, Jason Talbot

Commerce: Luka Best, Baden Dixon, Ty Modra, Ben Reynolds, Baden Dixon

COMMERCE HELD GOALLESS FOR FIRST TIME THIS SEASON

It may have ended in a scoreless draw but that didn’t mean there was a lack of action.

Second and third on the ladder heading into the game, it was the Tigers who stood tall, putting on full display some remarkable defensive efforts, leading Commerce to remain scoreless for the first time this season.

Commerce’s goalie Ash D’Souza stood on her head in net, making a number of crucial saves and preventing the upset.

Nightcliff’s Tiana Compton was a constant thorn in Commerce’s side with her work in the midfield.

Youngster Alicia David was another who had a great night, creating a number of fast breaks off the back of her exceptional speed and quick thinking.

ROUND 8 RESULTS

Men

Nightcliff Tigers 7 def. 4 Commerce Pints

East Darwin 10 def. 1 Palmerston Saints

Waratah 1 draw 1 Banks

Women

Nightcliff Tigers 0 draw 0 Commerce Pints

East Darwin 8 def. 2 Palmerston Saints

Waratah 1 def. 0 Banks

Big wins, tough encounters: Major talking points of TPL hockey Rd 7

PALMERSTON WOMEN SECURE FIRST WIN OF SEASON

It may have taken them a while, but the Saints have finally got their first win of the season in the books.

A bottom of the table affair and with their Round 2 clash ending in a 2-2 draw, it was the Saints who came away with a much needed three points, downing Banks 3-0.

Finding the back of the net three times in the opening quarter courtesy of Emma Vogt (2) and Hayley Lowe, the Saints held onto their lead until the full-time siren rung out.

“That first half was a hell of a performance,” Saints coach Adam Luck said.

“We put three goals on Banks and shut the game down then and there.

“Banks consolidated in the second half and came back at us, but big defensive efforts from Krista Bilato and Zarah Barnes kept us in the match; it was a game of holding structure and discipline.”

Palmerston Saints women finally got their first victory of the 2024 season. Picture: Contributed.

PALMERSTON MEN DEFEAT LAST YEAR’S RUNNER UP

Playing their way to just their second victory of the year, Saints’ men pulled off a great escape in a hugely gutsy performance.

Fighting their way back from a 2-0 deficit, it was Stingers striker Mitchell Lockley who put the side on his back, scoring a hat-trick as well as assisting his brother Jarrod for the winning goal.

Palmerston's Mitch Lockley had a game to remember. Picture: Contributed.

‘Historically we have tough games against Banks,” Saints coach Adam Luck said.

“That was definitely a tough match fought in the midfield with a few of our guys stepping up. “Mitch Lockley stepped up and had a really big captains knock with his three goals that lead us to victory.

“It was our game we’ve played all year with subs after being plagued by injuries and players unavailable due to work. For us to have a full team and get some full team rotating on the bench was great.”

NIGHTCLIFF WOMEN MAKING GROUND

Level at two a piece headed into the final term, Nightcliff were on the brink of the upset of the season, until some individual brilliance from the stick of Stingers midfielder Lauren Mutton quashed their hopes.

Going down 5-2 against undefeated and reigning premiers East Darwin, Nightcliff put together their best performance of the season to date.

“The girls put in a bloody good efforts and played so well,” Tigers coach Stuart Beath said.

“We lost veteran Sammy Pangquee to an injury at the start of the last quarter and the girls just ran out of legs after holding them to 2-2 for most of the match.

“As a team we stuck with the game plan.

“But unfortunately, while we did have a few more attacking chances in dangerous fast breaks and penalty corners in the last quarter, we didn’t put them away.”

ROUND 7 RESULTS

Men

Waratah 4 def. 1 Commerce Pints

Palmerston Saints 4 def. 3 Banks

East Darwin 3 def. 2 Nightcliff Tigers

Women

Commerce Pints 4 def. 2 Waratah

Palmerston Saints 3 def. 0 Banks

East Darwin 5 def. 2 Nightcliff Tigers

Originally published as Depleted Nightcliff Tigers down Commerce Pints