NTFL 2023-24: Watch PINT vs Tiwi Bombers Round 8 live stream

PINT produced their best form since back-to-back wins over Nightcliff and Waratah earlier in the season to not only end their Tiwi Bombers hoodoo, but also jump back into the finals race.

PINT put themselves back in the mix for final contention when they beat the Tiwi Bombers for the first time in their premier league history.

Set up by a three goal first quarter from livewire forward Liam Holt-Fitz and a perfect defensive strategy that denied any clear passage for Tiwi, the Greenants won 11.18 (84) to 4.6 (30).

Apart from the Holt-Fitz first term heroics, PINT set up with an impassable defence that included long kicking pair Steven Motlop and Ethan Penrith across halfback.

Together with the dashing and aggressive Warwick Wiliams and steady Brad Ryan calling the shots, the Islanders were for the most part reliant on individual performers to post scores.

The Bombers did however break through early in the game with solo goals from Kim Kantilla and elegant left footer Riley Bice and trailed by a mere seven points at the break.

But thereafter, they managed only two more six-pointers while the home side booted a further eight, to break their Tiwi hoodoo.

It was the third term where PINT exerted most superiority and while they posted only two goals a feature was inaccuracy.

In that time, and despite having their share of the ball through Sam Darley, Bice, Brendan Kantilla and Edward Puruntatameri-Dunn, the PINT defence closed ranks and Tiwi was held scoreless.

The home team straightened their shooting in the last and managed five majors – three to skipper Matt Ryan who had earlier been well held by some resolute Bomber defence.

Brad Ryan has been strong in defence for PINT in the 2023-24 NTFL season. Picture: David Bradley / AFLNT Media

Leader among the reshuffled Greenant defence was the rangy, strong marking Brad Ryan and he was aware of the importance of the win.

“We identified that our backline had been under the pump a bit over the last few weeks, and we were not getting the run we wanted so that’s why Steve and Ethan came back,” Ryan said.

“I love playing in the backline and tonight it all came together down there. We all worked well as a unit and came away with a good win which keeps us in touch with the others in a tight competition.

“Like all teams we have changes every week but there is depth, and we are confident we can continue to combine and string some more wins together before Christmas,” he added.

“I’m not worried about the scoreboard because that’s the most shots we’ve had for a long time and if we maintain our processes, more wins will come.”

Score:

PINT: 3.2 4.6 6.15 11.18 (84)

Bombers: 2.1 3.5 3.5 4.6 (30)

Goals:

PINT:

Matt Ryan 4

Liam Holt-Fitz 3

Brad Ryan

Warwick Williams

Connor McDonald

Ahmad Sgro

Bombers:

Kim Kantilla 2

Edward Puruntatameri-Dunn

Riley Bice

Best:

PINT:

Brad Ryan

Steven Motlop

Ethan Penrith

Warwick Williams

Luke Partington

Bombers:

Sam Darley

Riley Bice

Edward Puruntatameri-Dunn

Brendan Kantilla

Jordan Briston

PREVIEW

A defeat and a draw in their debut season means PINT has never beaten Tiwi Bombers.

Can the Greenants, fresh off a bye, finally get one over their bogey side and lift themselves back into the NTFL finals race?

The NT News and KommunityTV will be at DXC Arena to stream all the action from 6pm on Saturday.

It’s been an inconsistent season for PINT, who started so positively beating Nightcliff and reigning premiers Waratah.

However, their form has dropped since those games and they would have counted themselves fortunate to have escaped with a win over Wanderers ahead of their week off.

Now back in the fray, they will be looking to the experience of Steven Motlop, Warwick Williams and Liam Holt-Fitz to help them past a side they are renowned to struggle against.

PINT will host the Tiwi Bombers in Round 8 of the 2023-24 NTFL season.

It was the X-factor and speed of the Bombers that caught PINT out last year, and earned Tiwi their first win in 988 days in Round 5 last year,. They followed it up with a draw later in the season.

The Bombers have improved again this year and the return of Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti into the side this week may help inspire another victory.

Sam Darley, Kim Kantilla and Brendan Kantilla are other experienced players that PINT need to keep under wraps in this encounter.

A full replay of the match will be posted here following the end of the game.

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