Nightcliff won a light affected NTFL match at Marrara’s TIO Stadium last night

NIGHTCLIFF won its 12th Premier League game in 13 starts last night, despite a third quarter blackout when three of the five light towers went out

Nightcliff’s Liam Holt-Fitz booted three goals in the shortened NFL game at TIO Stadium when three light towers went out.

NIGHTCLIFF won its 12th Premier League game in 13 starts last night, despite a third quarter blackout when three of the five light towers went out.

A substation supplying power to TIO Stadium is believed to have failed with Nightcliff leading by 33 points.

The maximum 30-minute rule was applied in order to get the light towers working, but time ran out at 9.36pm, presenting Nightcliff with a win under league rules that state a match can be completed if it has run into the second half.

Kyle Winter-Irving’s goal making tackle on Buffalo speedster Tim Eldridge summed up Nightcliff’s stunning start to the match.

Eldridge was caught running across his defensive goal by a desperate Winter-Irving tackle, forcing the ball from his grasp into the waiting hands of Trent Melville, who goaled.

Nightcliff’s ability to win the ball at stoppages and run hard with it was hurting the Buffaloes.

Opportunist goals by the pacy Liam Holt-Fitz and a glorious left-foot snap by Bendigo goalkicking machine Lachlan Sharp set Nightcliff on their way.

Nichols Medal fancy Brodie Filo’s long kicks to position and the urgency of Tigers Shaun Wilson and Brad Arnold made it one-way traffic in the early exchanges.

The Buffaloes did have one major weapon in giant spearhead Daniel Stafford.

The South Alice Springs recruit booted three goals from marks and should have kicked a fourth when he missed a gettable shot from 25 metres.

Buffalo skipper Jarrod Stokes led from the front, snapping a clever goal and giving Chris Williams another one with a short pass that almost knocked his teammate off his feet.

Stafford’s fourth goal when he outmuscled Kaine Riley and marked a Darren Shillabeer long ball gave the Buffaloes some hope.

Then came the light failure and 30 minutes of waiting time before the game was called off.

NIGHTCLIFF 5.2 10.6 12.8 (80)

BUFFALOES 1.1 5.2 7.5 (47)

GOALS — Night: L Holt-Fitz 3 L Sharp 3 T Melville 3 K Winter-Irving C Ilett B Arnold. Buffs: D Stafford 4 J Stokes C Williams L McKenzie.

BEST — Night: B Filo L Holt-Fitz D Bowles T Melville S Wilson. Buffs: D Stafford J Stokes D Lines M Coombes L McKenzie