Tiwi Bombers beaten by an efficient Nightcliff side in a quiet show of class

NIGHTCLIFF did everything a good side is supposed to do when they beat the fleet footed Tiwi Bombers by 40 points at Marrara yesterday.

Nightcliff’s Matthew Bricknell has the ball on a string as Tiwi Bomber Paddy Heenan looms large. Picture: GLENN CAMPBELL

NIGHTCLIFF did everything a good side is supposed to do when they beat the fleet footed Tiwi Bombers by 40 points at Marrara yesterday.

The Tigers roared out of the blocks with an eight-goal to one first quarter and were never headed despite the Bombers closing to within three goals in the third term.

Nightcliff captain Phillip Wills pointed to his side’s six-goal to three last quarter as proof of the players’ ability to work hard for four quarters.

“Tiwi were very good today and we had to work, but that’s something we pride ourselves on,’’ he said.

“We always knew we had that fitness in the tank and we’re only going to build on that as the season goes on.’’

The big start was ignited by the ruckwork of Tiger big man Jonathon Miles, who shot Nightcliff to a 45-point lead at the first change.

Five players kicked goals in the term, including first gamer Liam Evans and last season’s leading goalkicker Trent Melville, as the Tiwi backline came under fire.

The Tiwis were missing key quartet Nathan Djerrkura, Ross Tungatalum, Liam Wale-Buxton and Austin Wonaeamirri to a mix of injury and unavailability among 10 changes to the side thrashed by the Darwin Buffaloes last week.

But they showed great courage in the second term, Adam Tipungwuti running off half back, Jeffrey Simon around the ball and Harley Puruntatameri presenting himself up forward in a quarter where they kicked four goals to one to reduce the margin to 29 points.

The free flowing Tigers suddenly had a Bomber next to them or hunting them down as a change come over the match.

Two opportunist goals by Jake Best got the Bombers within 18 points five minutes into the third term and all the signs pointed to a Tiwi comeback.

When Cameron Ilett left the ground with what looked like a serious shoulder injury following a tackle by Tiwi Jeffrey McDonald, the momentum looked to be with the Bombers.

But Ilett was back at the start of the last quarter and so were the Tigers, who ran over a Tiwi side that ran out of steam after working hard in the second and third quarters.

NIGHTCLIFF 8.4 9.9 12.15 18.17 (115)

TIWI BOMBERS 1.1 5.4 10.6 13.7 (85)

GOALS — Nightcliff: L Evans 4 T Melville 3 H Williams 3 C Ilett 2 M Bricknell 2 P Wills K Winter-Irving T Kidney B Filo. Tiwis: G Cunningham 4 J Best 3 H Puruntatameri 2 M Kantilla D Munkara A Tipungwuti P Heenan.

BEST — Nightcliff: J Miles P Wills B Filo K Riley H Williams. Tiwis: A Tipungwuti J Simon H Puruntatameri P Heenan N Sibson.