Battle of the NTFL football cousins is won by side from the other side of the Beagle Gulf

THE Tiwi Bombers played themselves back into the NTFL Premier League’s top five when they beat St Mary’s by 34 points

Dion Munkara was in sparkling form for the Tiwi Bombers in their win over St Mary’s.

THE Tiwi Bombers played themselves back into the NTFL Premier League’s top five last night when they beat St Mary’s by 34 points.

Big ruckman Liam Wale-Buxton dominated the match for the Bombers with his powerful hit-outs and strong marking in his side’s 12.12 (84) to 7.8 (50) win.

The Bombers kicked three of the first four goals of the match and looked set for another goal blitz in the manner of their Round 3 match against the Saints.

The run of Dion Munkara and Adam Tipungwuti was already on show, along with the height and strength of Wale-Buxton in the ruck and Jake Best up forward.

Best booted four goals in the first half to set up a 28-point lead at the main break.

The Tiwis’ leg speed was again a major problem for the Saints, particularly with Wale-Buxton and Jack Monigatti giving their speedsters first use of the ball.

Austin Wonaeamirri leading straight down the ground and kicking accurately for goal was another problem for the hard working Saints defence.

The St Mary’s forward line could not get going in the first half, Tiwi talls Chris Jones and Rory Lehmann and the poise of Jason Puruntatameri cancelling out the aerial threat of comeback kid Peter MacFarlane and Leroy Larson.

It took 10 minutes for a goal to be kicked in the all-important third term, Wonaeamirri goaling from 40 metres despite a howling cross wind

What was ominous in the lead up to that goal was the long run by Bomber Blake Puruntatameri and short pass to Wonaeamirri who was left alone at half forward.

Jack Geary’s long goal at the PINT Club end was the only time St Mary’s broke open the Tiwi defence, leaving them 34 points adrift at the last change.

But three Saints goals in the first 10 minutes of the last term threatened to steal the match.

Josh Cheek’s long goal at the Michael Long Centre end and follow-ups by Tylah Saunders and Nate Paredes got their fans yelling.

But the class of former West Coast midfielder Ashton Hams steadied the Bombers.

His pass to Ross Tungatalum for a goal and Monigatti’s long goal a minute later sealed the Tiwi’s best win of the season.

TIWI BOMBERS 3.4 7.9 9.10 12.12 (84)

ST MARY’S 2.1 3.5 4.6 7.8 (50)

GOALS — Tiwis: J Best 5 A Wonaeamirri 3 R Tungatalum J Monigatti M Kantilla D Munkara. St Mary’s: S Rioli 2 J Geary L Larson T Saunders N Paredes J Cheek.

BEST — Tiwis: L Wale-Buxton D Munkara A Tipungwuti B Puruntatameri J Best. St Mary’s: J Geary S Rioli M Manteit J Cheek B Slater.