St Mary’s have ended reigning premier Nightcliff’s 11-game winning run with a 27-point win

ST MARY’S did what no other team could do this NTFL season, out-lasting reigning premier Nightcliff in a pulsating match

St Mary's ruckman Ryan Smith gets boot to ball. Picture: Keri Megelus

ST MARY’S did what no other team could do this NTFL season, out-lasting reigning premier

Nightcliff in a pulsating match at Marrara last night.

Saints ran away in the final moments, winning 15.9 (99) to 11.6 (72).

The Tigers opened the match looking seriously engaged, and big forward Kyle

Winter-Irving snared their first goal with less than a minute on the clock.

A hard-running Daniel Bowles added another soon after.

Ryan Smith took control of the ruck and began to give Saints some clean ball, followed by quick goals to Nathaniel Paredes and Jackson Paine.

The Green Machine took charge of the second term.

Goals to Leroy Larson, Nick Yarran and Jackson Calder gave Saints a six-point lead at the long break.

Forward forays were rare for Nightcliff in that quarter, and strong green defence ensured the reigning premier were held scoreless in perfect footy conditions.

Reliable Tiger sources believe it has been nearly a decade since their Premier League team has failed to score in any quarter of NTFL footy.

Saints continued their midfield dominance in the third term.

But with the combination of a more disciplined Nightcliff defence and a winning key

forward in Trent Melville (three goals), the Tigers snatched the lead back and

led by a goal at the third break.

A strong mark and goal to Nightcliff’s Caleb Walker early in the final term was

offset by a true Josh Cheek snap and Saints were still in the contest.

Another major to Larson and scores were level midway through the quarter.

Both sides scrambled bravely in the dying minutes, but it was the green team that

applied extra pressure and ran out worthy winners.