Darwin Buffaloes trample Palmerston Magpies in the last quarter to win Jerry Frank game

DARWIN Buffaloes snatched victory from the jaws of defeat last night when they beat Palmerston by four points in their NTFL match at Cazalys Arena

Memories: The late Jerry Frank trains with his son Ezekiel, who won the best on ground medal in his side’s narrow loss to the Buffaloes.

DARWIN Buffaloes snatched victory from the jaws of defeat last night when they beat Palmerston by four points in their NTFL match at Cazalys Arena.

Down and almost out at three-quarter time when they trailed by 26 points, the Buffaloes booted five goals to one in the last term to win the inaugural Jerry Frank Memorial Shield and secure a third-straight win.

Palmerston will be kicking themselves this morning after doing all the hard work in the first three quarters to win the match for their former player.

The Magpies meant business from the first bounce when they kept the Buffaloes to two goals while kicking two themselves.

Their following division of ruckman Jack Berry and on-baller Adam Diamond gave their forwards plenty of opportunities.

Ezekiel Frank was one Magpie to benefit from their good work, booting three goals from the key forward post from a series of strong marks.

Down back Raven Marika and Clifford Timms were strong in the clinches and at marking contests.

The Buffaloes struggled to get going for two and a half quarters, closed down by a desperate opponent and more often than not the victim of their own frustrations when they gave a series of free kicks away.

Their skipper Jarrod Stokes appeared to have his number taken after a clash with Magpies Tom Freeman as the double blues fought hard to find some consistency in their play.

Then it all came together in the last quarter, Matt Campbell and Tim Eldridge moved into the middle and continued to bang the ball forward where Jalen Clarke grabbed two crucial goals and Brodie Foster added a fifth to his name.

BUFFALOES 2.3 3.5 5.9 10.15 (75)

PALMERSTON 2.1 8.4 10.5 11.5 (71)

GOALS _ Buffs: B Foster 5 J Clarke 2 D Shillabeer M Quinn B Hogan. Palm: E Frank 4 A Diamond 2 D Nalkutjawuy J Rhodes M Perry D Cox K Holt-Tubbs.

BEST _ Buffs: B Foster B Culhane J Stokes M Campbell B Hogan.Palm: E Frank A Diamond J Berry R Marika C Williams