Flag favourites get the job done as finals football and historic back-to-back Premier League flags loom

NIGHTCLIFF earned a week’s rest in the NTFL premiership hunt after beating wooden spooners Palmerston by 108 points in the last minor round game

Jonathon Miles was supreme in the ruck for Nightcliff in their big win over Palmerston.

NIGHTCLIFF earned a week’s rest in the NTFL premiership hunt after beating wooden spooners Palmerston by 108 points in the last minor round game.

The Tigers closed down their 18-round home and away season with a quiet show of class that again stamped them as flag favourites in the hunt for NTFL football’s Holy Grail.

Nine players kicked goals in their 21.16 (142) to 5.4 (34) win in Magpieland.

But the Magpies made them earn every kick, handball and mark, despite the big gap on the scoreboard when the final siren blew.

Nightcliff utility and assistant coach Cameron Ilett said his side had been made to work by a Palmerston side desperate to finish the season on a good note.

“Full credit to Palmerston, they made us work extremely hard and the seven-goal difference at halftime probably didn’t reflect how tough it was out there,’’ he said.

“That half was very competitive and it was only in the second half when we found a lot more avenues to goal when the midfield started getting on top and the defenders began winning contested ball and getting it forward.’’

Nightcliff found another goalscorer in first gamer Declan Singh-Lippo when he booted five goals in his first taste of senior football.

James Tsitas continued his late season surge through the middle and up forward and Brad Arnold was also productive in a midfield role.

The Magpies found two ready-made players for next season when University pair Jared Sellwood in the ruck and Isaac Andrade (midfield) made their Premier League debuts.

NIGHTCLIFF 2.3 7.7 13.13 21.16 (142)

PALMERSTON 1.0 1.1 3.3 5.4 (34)

GOALS — Night: D Singh-Lippo 5 T Melville 3 C Ilett 3 B Arnold 2 J Tsitas 2 L Holt-Fitz 2 M Hagan 2 K Winter-Irving J Kickett. Palm: R Davey 2 A Lonergan A Davey M Chester.

BEST — Night: J Tsitas D Singh-Lippo B Arnold J Miles C Ilett. Palm: A Lonergan J Sellwood A Davey I Andrade R Davey.