Another Maurice Rioli cameo and four quarters of pressure earn St Mary’s a grand final berth

ST MARY’S completed the first half of an NTFL miracle when they beat hot favourites Nightcliff in the second semi-final

St.Mary's Maurice Rioli Jr inspired his side to a memorable second semi-final win over reigning premier Nightcliff. Picture: Justin Kennedy

ST MARY’S completed the first half of an NTFL miracle when they beat hot favourites Nightcliff in last night’s second semi-final.

Wooden spooners 12 months ago and playing for banned forward Leroy Larson, the Saints led the reigning premier all night before winning by 26 points and advancing to the March 14 grand final.

St Mary’s got out of the blocks first with a classy snap by Maurice Rioli Jr in the middle of an angry pack shooting them to an early lead.

Rioli showed all the traits of his footballing family by bouncing the ball like a basketball while Nightcliff defenders tried to grab him before thumping the ball through.

This was a St Mary’s come to play after a traumatic week off the field highlighted by young forward Leroy Larson’s deregistration.

The Saints were first to the ball and attacked it with intent, running to a 27-point lead at half time after booting five goals in the first two quarters.

Rioli kicked three goals, one of them a grubber that bounced for 20 metres, avoiding his spearhead Jackson Calder and opponent Tom Davies in the process.

Jackson Paine and Shaun Edwards were other good contributors and the return of veteran ruckman Ryan Smith meant the Saints small men got several opportunities at centre bounces and around the ground.

Nightcliff was hamstrung from the first bounce when clever goalsneak Liam Holt-Fitz and experienced defender Nathan Brown withdrew with hamstring strains suffered at training during the week.

Shaun Wilson was busy across half forward for the Tigers, booting two goals in a first quarter when it took Nightcliff 14 minutes to kick its first goal.

St Mary’s doubled their score and ran to a 27-point lead at the main break, Calder booting two opportunist goals and Henry Labastida threading one through from the right forward pocket in a golden 25 minutes.

But just when the big crowd at Marrara last night was contemplating a St Mary’s rags to riches rise from wooden spooners to grand finalists, Nightcliff came alive.

With Daniel Bowles, Kaine Riley and Jayden Kickett giving their side plenty of drive from half back, the Tigers forward line that did not fire a shot in the first half, came alive.

Trent Melville booted two goals from marks in the first two minutes and John Butcher started to grab some marks.

His only problem was inaccuracy, four misses from 30 metres a disappointing return until he kicked his first goal in the shadows of three quarter time.

ST MARY’S 5.1 10.2 12.5 16.7 (103)

NIGHTCLIFF 2.1 5.5 10.10 11.11 (77)

GOALS — StM: M Rioli Jr 4 J Calder 4 H Labastida S Edwards S Rioli R Smith J Paine N Paredes N Yarran. Night: T Melville 2 J Tsitas 2 S Wilson 2 M Hagan 2 L Sharp J Butcher B Arnold.

BEST — StM: J Paine M Rioli Jr S Edwards T Davies S Rioli. Night: D Bowles P Wills J Kickett B Arnold B Filo.