Southern Districts almost let a six-goal lead slip against a youthful St Mary’s in their NTFL clash

EXPERIENCED Crocodiles Ed Barlow and Corey O’Brien were keys to Southern Districts’ 12-point win over a young but ferocious St Mary’s at Fred’s Pass

Crocodile Ed Barlow is trapped between two Saints at Fred’s Pass. Picture: GLENN CAMPBELL

EXPERIENCED Crocodiles Ed Barlow and Corey O’Brien were keys to Southern Districts’ 12-point win over a young but ferocious St Mary’s at Fred’s Pass.

It was a game that produced several highlights, including a trademark Will Farrer skyscraping mark in the third quarter and two exquisite goals from the boundary line by Crocodiles Barlow and Dylan Barry.

Districts looked in total control against a Saints side with several under-18 players on board and a two-man interchange bench at three quarter time.

But their 38-point lead was whittle down to four points with five minutes left on the clock by an opposition that would not go away despite the big deficit.

Five goals in 10 minutes by new spearhead Jackson Calder, Nate Paredes, Baxter Slater, Jacob Long and Jack Long looked to have set up one of the league’s powerhouse club’s great wins.

But a magnificent angle goal by the busy Barlow with a minute left was enough to subdue a Saints side that lost nothing with the loss.

Barlow told the NT News he thought the game was done and dusted at the last change.

“But to their credit they kicked three, then four and five goals in a row by killing us out of the centre,’’ he said.

“So there were a lot of good signs for them and for our guys, it’s easy to drop your heads in that situation but luckily Rory and some of our hard running midfielders got going.’’

Both sides had standout players, Barlow was a colossus for Districts through the centre, O’Brien was his usual steely self and Lionel Ogden’s ability to turn defence into attack was a big positive for the home side.

St Mary’s got value from the old and the new in their distinctive yellow jumpers, Ryan Smith got his side going time and again with hitouts to his running players, Nick Yarran was busy across half forward and Adam Parry worked hard in defence.

STHN DISTRICTS 6.1 7.2 11.7 12.9 (81)

ST MARY’S 4.2 5.3 5.5 10.9 (69)

GOALS — Districts: W Farrer 3 D Barry 3 E Barlow 3 J Farrer D Williams S Barnett. St Mary’s: J Calder 3 N Paredes 2 Jacob Long N Yarran Jack Long B Slater A Parry.

BEST — Districts: E Barlow C O’Brien, L Ogden W Farrer D Barry. St Mary’s: R Smith A Parry T Davies N Yarran B Slater.