Nightcliff outlast St Mary’s in a 13-point grand final thriller that seals historic back-to-back flags

NIGHTCLIFF won its first back-to-back Premier League flags in 70 years of trying last night when it beat a desperate St Mary’s by 13 points in the grand final

The Nightcliff Tigers celebrate their first back-to-back NTFL premierships after beating St Mary’s by 13 points in the 2019/20 NTFL Grand Final. Picture: GLENN CAMPBELL

NIGHTCLIFF won its first back-to-back Premier League flags in 70 years of trying last night when it beat a desperate St Mary’s by 13 points in the grand final.

In a game that ebbed and flowed through four quarters of frenetic finals football, the Tigers kicked three goals to one in the last of them to win 10.13 (73) to 9.6 (60).

Jubilant Nightcliff coach Chris Baksh said his players had dug deep to hold back a second half revival by St Mary’s.

“Trent (Melville) was sensational up forward with his five goals, one of our goalkickers always stand up when they are required and it’s happened again.

“But all credit to Saints, they really know how to play finals football and they really had a crack at it.’’

Nightcliff spent 10 minutes in their forward half before a quick kick forward by Shaun Wilson was soccered through by Trent Melville.

The Tigers opened at a tremendous pace, dominating the inside 50s without transferring it to the scoreboard in big doses.

Josh Cheek was given a tagging role on Nichols medallist Brodie Filo and Braxton AhMat sent back to Tiger spearhead John Butcher in a bid by the Saints coaching staff to free up their key defender Tom Davies.

Melville was there again to mark and perform a run around goal to shoot Nightcliff to a 15-point lead before Maurice Rioli Jr ran on to a loose ball and goaled for St Mary’s.

Nightcliff got out to a 27-point lead twice in the second quarter, Melville kicking his third and fourth goals in a run that had the 4000-strong crowd roaring.

But goals to unlikely forward Jack Long and big spearhead Jackson Calder got the margin back to 17 points at the main break.

An early mark and goal by Calder at the start of the all-important third quarter set the scene for a St Mary’s revival.

Two goals to the busy Nate Paredes and a snap from close-in by Jarrad Waite got the green jumpers to within two points at the last change.

Michael Hagan missed a chance on the three quarter time siren to give his side some breathing space, but his shot from 30 metres skewed away to the right.

Hagan was the player who raced on to a loose ball midway through the last quarter and off-loaded to the pacy Ryan Mu for a goal that turned the final Nightcliff’s way

NIGHTCLIFF 2.3 6.8 7.12 10.13 (73)

ST MARY’S 1.1 4.3 8.4 9.6 (60)

GOALS — Night: T Melville 5 J Butcher 2 R Mu 2 M Hagan. StM: J Calder 2 N Paredes 2 J Waite 2 M Rioli Jr S Rioli J Long.

BEST — Night: T Melville (Chaney Medal) S Wilson D Bowles R Mu. StM: R Smith Jake Long S Edwards J Salmon H Labastida.