Nightcliff’s bid for historic back-to-back Premier League flags still alive after prelim final win

NIGHTCLIFF have set up a Premier League grand final encounter with St Mary’s and a chance at historic back-to-back flags after their comfortable 37-point preliminary final win

Trent Melville’s four goals inspired Nightcliff to a preliminary final win over Southern Districts. Picture: GLENN CAMPBELL

NIGHTCLIFF have set up a Premier League grand final encounter with St Mary’s and a chance at historic back-to-back flags after their comfortable 37-point win over Southern Districts in the preliminary final.

The Tigers won the game in the third quarter when they booted seven goals to two, opening up a 33-point lead the Crocodiles could not run down.

Forwards Trent Melville (four) and John Butcher (four) booted eight goals between them in a return to goalkicking duties the Tigers hope will transfer to next Saturday night’s decider.

There was no slow start by the Tigers this time after being jumped by a ferocious St Mary’s in the early minutes of the second semi-final.

They did fall behind after 11 minutes when Districts’ Josh Innes goaled from a free, but it was a different Nightcliff this week with their attack on the ball and run and carry.

Spearhead John Butcher put last week’s kicking woes behind him with some spectacular goals, none more so than his first for the match when he produced a soccer kick from mid-air.

Districts stayed with Nightcliff in the first half, the Barlow duo — Michael and Ed — getting plenty of the ball and Nathan Horbury effective across half forward.

More soccer goals followed from a desperate Nightcliff side, the returning Liam Holt-Fitz doing his best George Best impersonation with a spectacular kick off the ground that split the centre of the goals in the second term.

But this was the real Nightcliff side, youngster Ryan Mu, Zach Brain, skipper Phillip Wills and veteran Cameron Ilett all back to their best in a win full of class.

NIGHTCLIFF 3.1 5.5 12.6 13.10 (88)

STHN DISTRICTS 2.1 5.3 7.3 8.3 (51)

GOALS — Night: J Butcher 4 T Melville 4 M Hagan 2 R Mu L Holt-Fitz C Ilett. Dist: E Barlow 2 N Horbury 2 J Garlett W Farrer D Barry J Innes.

BEST — Night: Z Brain S Wilson L Holt-Fitz D Bowles N Brown. Dist: E Barlow K Dingo B Lake N Horbury P Gallow