Litchfield Bears and Northern Sharks pull off big wins in Round 3 of the NRL NT A-grade premiership

LITCHFIELD’S young guns showed up to play in their first win of the 2021 NRL NT season, prevailing 56-0 over South Darwin. And Northern Sharks upset reigning premiers Darwin Brothers 32-12 in Round 3 action.

Northern Sharks Suliasi Tavodi on his way to scoring one of three tries. Picture: Che Chorley

LITCHFIELD’S young guns showed up to play in their first win of the 2021 NRL NT season, prevailing 56-0 over South Darwin. And Northern Sharks upset reigning premiers Darwin Brothers 32-12 in Round 3 action.

South Darwin looked strong on the attack early on with the likes of Tian Nichols and Baily Zako making breaks and probing kicks early on to test the Litchfield defence.

But despite that early ascendency it was Bears who made the first impression of the scoreboard cutting through the defence to score the opener for David Jacobson.

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And just like that Bears’ full of new players found their way on to the front foot with an overlap on the right wing allowing Daniel Gallow over for the second try.

Callum Dubbeld - making his A-grade debut alongside Ben Drayton and David Morrell - was the next to cross the line charging through Souths shortly followed by a score for Clancy Court.

Post half time was much of the same with Litchfield still holding all the cards and Dillan Vanderberg driving the ball on more than one destructive run.

Morrell, Bill Burn, Alex Marchant and Brodie Morcom were all benefactors of a tiring Souths defence and a destructive Bears’ offence.

Litchfield debutant Ben Drayton passes down the line. Picture: Che Chorley

Dubbeld scored his second as well juggling the ball off a difficult pass.

And Vanderberg was also rewarded for his efforts on another of his typical bulldozing runs which put the big forward over for the final score.

Litchfield captain Luke Mahood was pleased with the result which came as his side’s first of the season.

“It was good. We had a lot of player’s score an A-grade debut today and the young fellas from 18s stepped up and had a crack,” Mahood told the NT News.

“For us it was about our attitude and keeping our heads up when things aren’t going our way which is something we’ve struggled with over the past few weeks.

“A lot of guys are only just starting out. We have a new team and they’re coming along well with the rest of us getting around them and teaching them the ins and outs at this level.

“There’s some good things to come from these young guys and our work is paying off.

“Now we look ahead, manage some injuries and focus on what’s next working hard on a new game plan.”

Meanwhile, Sharks proved they’re more than in the finals fight after beating reigning premiers Darwin Brothers 32-12.

Sharks got off the mark from the off with Simaika Salaa and Suliasi Tavodi scoring quick fire tries on down the right wing.

Brothers didn’t lose faith in themselves biting back through a Jonas Niki try while Caleb Niki showed his strength with more than one crunching tackle.

Northern Sharks’ five eighth Dakota Marsh kicks off against Darwin Brothers. Picture: Che Chorley

But Sharks didn’t let up with Tavodi and young gun Rob Franklin both scoring hatricks showing that the side are more than capable of building a strong offence.

Equally pleasing for the side that has struggled in recent years will be their defence which shone in the second half only leaking a single try to wing Mickael Becat despite long periods of pressure.

Nick Yarran and Drew Tobin made breaks for the premiers but were shut down each time an attack looked on while dropped ball cost the side at crucial times.

Coach PD Downes regarded the win as another show of the strong culture the club had built over the off season with players working together for the game plan.

“It’s always good to get the win. The focus here was just about fixing up the one percenters and making sure the boys understood their roles,” Downes said.

“It’s always the idea to come out with intensity as we did but the boys created that themselves and they executed our game plan as we wanted.

“Now we will go back and enjoy this win before looking at what we need to do for the next game.”