NTFL 2022-23: Watch PINT vs Waratah Round 9 livestream

Waratah held off a significant fightback from PINT to return to the top of the NTFL ladder. WATCH THE REPLAY.

Table toppers Waratah has withstood a second half surge from a tenacious PINT team that simply refused to yield, edging home by 13 points at DXC Arena.

The Round 9 match appeared over at half time at a sodden Marrara, with last year’s grand finalists -who had kicked 33 goals over the past two rounds - leading by 39 points on the back of some Darcy Hope aerial dominance and that quintessential Tahs pressure.

However, Shannon Motlop’s men flipped the script in the third, conjuring a ferocity for the contest which harvested a momentum-shifting 5.2 to suddenly alter the direction of the match.

It was telling the difference was just two goals in the end as the returning Abe Ankers stepped up twice to slot majors, just when his team needed him, to steady the Tahs ship as they shot to the top of the Men’s Premier League ladder.

Abe Ankers was on fire for Waratah against PINT in Round 9 of the 2022-23 NTFL season. Picture: Patch Clapp / AFLNT Media

The Greenants, however, showed they have a hunger for the hard ball, with their biggest losing margin being 29 points in a Round 1 loss to Nightcliff.

Post-match, Tahs coach Ryan Ayres said it was one of the club’s hardest-earned victories from its 6-2 season.

“They were pretty impressive around the contest, their endeavour to win the footy,” Ayres said.

“I don’t think they’ve been beaten by much all season.

“So I knew they’d be pretty competitive and they showed that in the second half.

“They turned it into a real scrap.”

He was also not surprised it was Ankers, playing in just his second MPL game this season, provided the steadying influence on two occasions.

“He bobs up when he needs to, we love Abe,” he said.

“We’ll try and get as many games as we can.”

Earlier, the Greenants enjoyed the inspirational start it needed against an NTFL heavyweight via a brilliant snap on the left from captain Matt Ryan.

However, with Hope a threat up forward and Ankers making his presence felt almost immediately, Tahs slowly began to assert their authority.

The latter showed his invaluable worth in one elite piece of play: after producing a precision pass to Hope on the 50m line, he bolted forwards to then gather the ball in the pocket and hook the leather into the waiting hands of Henry Kerinaiua.

Kerinaiua also picked out Corey Rich, in his first game in red and white this season, to add another six-pointer, while his 18-year-old namesake Tim, making his MPL debut, also picked up some early touches to settle the nerves.

Darcy Hope celebrates a goal for Waratah against PINT in Round 9 of the 2022-23 NTFL season. Picture: Patch Clapp / AFLNT Media

A sublime set shot from Scott Carlin from the boundary line maintained Waratah’s dominance into the second.

And as the tattooed Hope converted another mark on the lead, and Dylan Collis providing plenty of rebound from defence, Tahs appeared to have too much class and grunt across the park.

However, as we’ve come to witness this season, the Greenants are a spirited team who refuse to submit.

As Ryan repeated his first quarter heroics from close to the same spot, it triggered a green and gold revival.

The home side would transition the ball smoothly through the middle, resulting in an outside-of-the-boot Andrew Mead-Harding six-point special.

Suddenly, all the play was in PINT’s attacking half and every entry threatened maximum damage on the scoreboard.

Sensing a total momentum shift, Ayres moved the bulk of his players into their defensive 50 to slow the tide, as their lead was trimmed to just 20 points.

There were brief ripostes from a dominant Ed Morris and Ankers, but PINT had more than just a sniff at three quarter time, with Andrew Jones emerging as a marking target.

You sensed against a lesser team PINT would have likely ran away with the four points.

But not against a hardened Tahs outfit, as Ankers yet again stepped up to kick a goal at exactly the right time.

Score:

PINT: 2.0 2.2 7.4 9.7 (61)

Waratah: 4.2 8.5 10.6 11.8 (74)

Goals

Waratah:

Darcy Hope 2

Henry Kerinaiua 2

Abraham Ankers 2

Corey Rich

Arnold Kirby

Jayden Magro

Scott Carlin

Ed Morris

PINT:

Matt Ryan 2

Andrew Jones 2

Andrew Mead-Harding 2

Alex Harvey 2

Elliot Chalmers

Best

PINT:

Matt Ryan

Alex Harvey

Ethan Penrith

Mitchel Lowe

Andrew Jones

Waratah:

Abraham Ankers

Ed Morris

Dylan Collis

Henry Kerinaiua

Scott Carlin

Livestream Preview

PINT’s perfect home record will be put to the test when they host a strong Waratah in Round 9.

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

New side PINT have jumped into the top flight competition as if they’ve always been there, and at home they are able to rise to a whole new level.

So far at DXC Arena they’ve been both reigning premiers St Mary’s and a talented Wanderers outfit.

And while they haven’t quite tasted victory away from home, they went the full four quarters against a top side Southern Districts last week.

Waratah are perhaps the most in-form side to head to DXC Arena this season, and with a week off behind them will be well prepared for the contest.

PINT will take on Waratah in Round 9 of the 2022-23 NTFL season. Picture: Celina Whan / AFLNT Media

Jayden Magro is the competition’s leading goal scorer, while Brodie Carroll and Dylan Collis have marshalled the group well.

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.