Ruthless Nightcliff demolish young Saints as the Premier League finals loom large for both clubs

NIGHTCLIFF grabbed some early bragging rights in the race to the NTFL Premier League finals when it beat an undermanned St Mary’s by 65 points

Liam Holt-Fitz booted three goals in Nightcliff’s comfortable win over a young St Mary’s side. Picture: GLENN CAMPBELL

NIGHTCLIFF grabbed some early bragging rights in the race to the NTFL Premier League finals when it beat an undermanned St Mary’s by 65 points yesterday.

The Tigers held a Saints side with eight under-18 players in their ranks scoreless in the first half before some normality returned in the last two quarters.

But the 14.13 (97) to 4.8 (32) win revealed all that is ruthless about the defending premier, including a big appetite for kicking goals and sharing the football in the process.

Assistant coach Cameron Ilett, again one of his side’s best players in what many pundits had conceived as a dress rehearsal for the March 14 grand final, said discipline and consistency had been big factors in the win.

“Our workrate and consistency over the four quarters was a key for us,’’ Ilett said.

“Even though Saints had a young side this time, they still had some quality players out there with a lot of enthusiasm and run in them.

“We showed them the respect they deserve, they’re a great club, but the important thing for us was we worked really hard and got an even better result.’’

Nightcliff hardly had a passenger all day, every player in a black and yellow jumper contributing something, whether that was in the form of a shepherd, knock-on or creative handball to a teammate further up the ground.

Nichols Medal favourite Brodie Filo showed the big crowd on hand his long kicking techniques in the last quarter.

Two towering goals from outside the 50 metre circle, the first carrying through post-high from 65 metres, set up a four goal last term by the league champions.

St Mary’s best players were in defence, Tom Davies and Anthony Long working hard to prevent a total rout with their No.1 ruckman Ryan Smith a late withdrawal.

NIGHTCLIFF 2.0 8.4 10.8 14.13 (97)

ST MARY’S 0.2 0.4 1.7 4.8 (32)

GOALS — Night: L Holt-Fitz 3 T Melville 2 J Butcher 2 B Filo 2 S Wilson 2 J Tsitas L Winter-Irving M Hagan. StM: N Paredes 2 S Lampton R Jordon.

BEST — Night: C Ilett L Holt-Fitz B Filo N Brown B Arnold. StM: T Davies A Long Jake Long S Edwards N Paredes.