The Darwin Buffaloes win back-to-back games after a second half goal blitz sinks Waratah

THE Darwin Buffaloes went from goalkicking villains to sharpshooters when they beat NTFL rivals Waratah by 32 points at TIO Stadium

Buffaloes skipper Jarrod Stokes was a key player in his side’s win over Waratah. Picture: GLENN CAMPBELL

THE Darwin Buffaloes went from goalkicking villains to sharpshooters last night when they beat Waratah by 32 points at TIO Stadium.

The double blues kicked three goals from 17 shots before a seven-goal run without a point set up a 14.17 (101) to 10.9 (69) win.

Skipper Jarrod Stokes, who booted three goals in his side’s third quarter blitz, said the win had come at a good time.

“We’re slowly starting to find some form and putting some games together. We stuck to the game plan of getting the ball to our forwards and they will do the rest.’’

The Buffaloes almost shot themselves in the foot in the first quarter when eight shots at goal only produced one major, a goal line tap-in by Daniel Stafford.

Waratah made the maximum use of four 50 metre entries to kick two goals, speedster Kim Kantilla and “Mr Reliable’’ Abe Ankers finding the right way to goal.

But some shocking misses by the Buffalo forwards — Stafford missing three gettable goals — was the main talking point in the first 25 minutes of the match.

Opportunist goals by former St Mary’s utility Michael Coombes, when he did a George Best impersonation by soccering through a goal and playing coach Matt Campbell got them in front by two points at the main break.

But over anxious finishing and a desperate Tahs defence restricted them to three goals from 15 shots at the main break.

At the other end of the ground Kantilla showed his opponents the benefits of accuracy when he snapped his second goal and kicked a third from a set shot after a strong mark.

Three goals in the first 10 minutes of the third quarter shot Waratah to a 15-point lead before the Buffaloes woke from their halftime slumber.

Stafford’s strength when the ball hit the ground allowed him to soccer a goal before Stokes with two spectacular snaps and a Darren Shillabeer goal from a free changed the game.

BUFFALOES 1.7 3.12 10.14 14.17 (101)

WARATAH 2.0 4.4 8.4 10.9 (69)

GOALS — Buffs: D Stafford 5 J Stokes 3 B Hogan M Coombes M Campbell C Williams D Shillabeer B Culhane. Waratah: K Kantilla 5 A Ankers 2 B Zobel M Blake M Newton.

BEST — Buffs: M Campbell D Stafford J Stokes M Coombes T Eldridge. War: K Kantilla A Ankers T Mosquito J Wilkins A Raikiwasa.