St Mary’s signal their return to the NTFL finals with a hard working 14-point win over the Buffaloes

ST MARY’S came from five goals down early in the third quarter to beat traditional rival the Darwin Buffaloes by 14 points at Gardens Oval

St Mary’s defender Jacob Long gets set to mark against the Buffaloes at Gardens Oval. Picture GLENN CAMPBELL

ST MARY’S came from five goals down early in the third quarter to beat traditional rival the Darwin Buffaloes by 14 points at Gardens Oval.

Saints’ 13.10 (88) to 11.8 (74) win pushed the Buffaloes out of the top three and into an elimination final against Southern Districts next week.

The Buffaloes controlled the game for the first hour, playing coach Matt Campbell through the middle and up forward, Tim Eldridge running out of half back and Stephen Tahana in a similar role giving them first use of the football.

Big spearhead Daniel Stafford’s juggling mark and third goal at the Mindil Beach end of the ground shot the Buffaloes 29-point clear and within reach of a memorable win.

But St Mary’s defender Jacob Long, his side’s best player in a game where they kicked 10 unanswered goals from midway through the third term until the last five minutes of the match, said the players were told at the main break the intensity of the game resembled finals football.

“We knew it was going to be hard to come back, but we fought back and did a good job in the end,’’ he told the Sunday Territorian.

“We knew Buffs would bring their toughest side, they are our rivals and always play good footy against us, but we stuck together and came back to get the win.’’

St Mary’s showed their desperate side in the all-important third quarter, Maurice Rioli Jr, captain Shannon Rioli and Jackson Paine lifting their game to another level and young Saints Riley Linklater and Colin Wilson rising to the occasion after the Buffaloes looked like running away with the game.

The Buffaloes will be kicking themselves after looking certain qualifying finalists midway through the game.

Now they must overcome another big rival, Southern Districts, in an elimination final to progress further in the finals.

ST MARY’S 2.2 3.6 8.8 13.10 (88)

BUFFALOES 3.2 7.5 8.7 11.8 (74)

GOALS — StM: D Johnstone 3 J Waite 3 S Edwards 2 S Rioli J Cheek N Paredes J Calder A Parry. Buffs: D Stafford 4 I Palmer 3 L McKenzie A Sambono M Campbell T Eldridge.

BEST — StM: Jacob Long M Rioli Jr CJ Wilson S Rioli D Johnstone. Buffs: T Eldridge M Campbell S Tahana D Shillabeer K Maroney.