NTFL 2022-23: Watch PINT vs Nightcliff Tigers Round 17 livestream

Nightcliff hung on to claim it’s sixth win in succession against a PINT side well up for the contest. WATCH THE REPLAY.

Nightcliff has hung on at DXC Arena to bank its sixth win in succession as PINT blew its chances to score late in an often dour affair decided by just eight points.

However, it mattered little in the end for the Greenants who had held faint hopes of a finals berth entering Round 17.

The Darwin Buffaloes, two points above PINT in fifth place on the Men’s Premier League table, flogged a depleted Wanderers by 72 points down the road at TIO to end any speculation about the top five’s final formation.

Continuing the Tigers’ transformed season, four sausages from Jay Moody, who had not been sighted at the top level since late November, was crucial in a low scoring, congested contest, Nightcliff eventually winning 9.6 (60) to 7.10 (52).

In fact, the first three quarters could have been viewed as a stalemate interrupted by two sudden bursts of rapid fire goals from both teams.

However head coach, Shannon Motlop was left with an all too familiar result: a competitive performance which ultimately came up short, losing its eighth match by under 30 points.

PINT appeared to have the better of Nightcliff over the closing stages of the match, after Cam Ilett suffered a calf injury, but could only produce 1.4 as the Tiger defence held firm yet again.

Captain Ryan Nyhuis has been instrumental in the Tigers’ run of form. Picture: Tymunna Clements.

Earlier, a far from full strength Nightcliff went into the game without some heavy midfield artillery, including Brodie Filo, Bailey Edwards, James Gow, Shaun Wilson and ruckman Jackson Bowen.

And it was a scrappy affair for the first quarter and a bit, with neither side able to do much damage apart from Moody’s first.

However, the Tigers suddenly came alive through an expert crumb from Ryan Mu.

And when fellow young gun Peter Politis nailed a set shot, it looked like season over for the Pinters, regardless of the result across the road.

However, the Greenants stormed back into the contest with Brayden Taylor, who was prolific throughout the night, picking out skipper Matt Ryan for his team’s opener.

Quick hands from Elliot Chalmers amid heavy traffic set up Ryan’s second before Alex Harvey delivered the icing on a smooth defensive rebound to reduce the buffer even further.

With just a straight kick separating both sides at half time, PINT’s season was still alive, albeit with a faint pulse.

Like they did against Darwin Buffaloes a fortnight ago, Harvey and Ryan emerged as a potential match-winning double act, while Ethan Penrith was once again a contest beast in the green and gold.

With the lead changing several times, Moody was particularly brilliant with a six-pointer off the turf befitting the world game.

However, despite multiple forward entries in the closing stages of the match, PINT could not cash in.

Post-match Moody said he was pleased to return to the top flight after some battles with osteitis pubis.

“It was six or seven changes, but we grinded it out,” Moody said of the club’s bulk swaps.

“We knew internally what we could do, there was a lot of outside noise about Nightcliff going downhill.

“It comes your way when you lose five in a row.

“We’ve started to gel and we’re playing some decent footy.”

Score:

PINT: 0.2 3.2 6.6 7.10 (52)

Nightcliff: 1.3 4.3 6.4 9.6 (60)

Goals:

PINT:

Alex Harvey 3

Matt Ryan 3

Tom Schott

Nightcliff:

Jay Moody 4

Daniel Jackson 2

Ryan Mu

Peter Politis

John Butcher

Best:

PINT:

Brayden Taylor

Ethan Penrith

Alex Harvey

Matt Ryan

Tom Schott

Nightcliff:

Jay Moody

Daniel Jackson

Ryan Nyhuis

Peter Politis

John Butcher

LIVESTREAM PREVIEW

PINT are in the last chance saloon as far as finals are concerned and to get there they need to overcome an imposing Nightcliff outfit.

And the NT News will be there to livestream every minute of the game exclusively for you from 6.30pm, Saturday.

PINT’s season hangs in the balance as they need a win and some other results to go their way to snatch a finals spot.

They’ve been an impressive outfit in their opening year of premier league footy showing off plenty of consistency.

In their favour is they will be at home at DXC Arena, where they have only dropped one match all season.

But a formidable Nightcliff is their next foe, and the Tigers are at this stage the form side of the competition beating all comers including top side Southern Districts.

Nightcliff Tigers will clash with PINT in Round 17 of the 2022-23 NTFL season. Picture: Celina Whan / AFLNT Media

There’s quality across this side and with finals now their target Nightcliff don’t look like they will be letting their foot off the gas anytime soon.

If you are attempting to cast the livestream or replay to a television, the best result can be achieved by either using a laptop/computer or a mobile phone.

The NT News and AFL Northern Territory have come together in a partnership to livestream Men’s Premier League games for this TIO NTFL season.