NTFL 2023-24: Watch Tiwi Bombers vs Darwin Buffaloes Round 15 live stream

Finals-hunting Darwin Buffaloes will be relieved they did all the hard work early as a fast-finishing Tiwi Bombers made the final quarter a very uncomfortable experience. Relive all the action.

Darwin Buffaloes fought off a late Tiwi Bombers surge to earn a narrow win and maintain their hopes of a fifth place finish.

The Double Blues dominated early, then came under sustained pressure in the second half, before regaining their composure to win 10.9 (69) to 9.3 (57).

Buffaloes were hard at the footy straight from centre bounce and their early intensity overwhelmed their opposition.

Antonio James went hard at the footy and a long boot forward, followed by a crafty Timmy Eldridge handball, set up the opener within a minute for Lachlan Hill.

The Bombers didn’t let the moment get the better of them and some clean possessions from Brock Orval allowed his side to break through to their forward 50.

Thaddeus Puautjimi cut off the Buffaloes’ attempt to escape and supplied Kim Kantilla, whose misdirected shot found Rhett Jordan, who finished off the effort.

The Bombers’ defence, notably Orval, Darcy Lang and Tanna Blackney-Noter, were forced to work overtime from there as the Buffaloes found a foothold in the midfield contest.

Skipper Jarrod Stokes and Baxter Mensch dominated the possessions, and it was the former who kept the pressure up racing out of the middle to give his forwards every chance.

And it was in the second quarter where the Double Blues efforts resulted in a flood of points, whether coming off long balls forward from Stokes or tall forward Daniel Stafford.

Daniel Stafford kicked four goals for the Buffaloes against Tiwi. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The Buffaloes stretched their score out throughout the period as Tiwi struggled to adapt to the wet, slippery conditions, playing their trademark quick chips instead of booting long.

The Bombers changed their approach after halftime, choosing the longer options, and suddenly the momentum swung in their favour.

Tiwi put their big bodies into the stoppages and long kicks suited their forward’s natural leg speed in the forward fifty, whether it was Kim Kantilla or Brendan Kantilla, having a strong game.

Tipiloura also broke free from his marks more often and got in the action himself, only undone when Bradley Stokes pulled off a wonder mark while lying on his back.

The momentum carried through to the final quarter where Orval and Lang continued to call the shots, but they couldn’t quite finish the job.

Instead Antonio James, finding himself in space fired off the sealer from far out to keep the Buffaloes charge alive.

“We got on top of them a fair bit in the first half, but they’re a team with momentum and we knew they were going to come,” Mensch said, after another high possession game.

“We held on in the end and we’re really proud with the efforts, it was a strong win and gives us belief heading into finals with the chance of making it still there.

“Our smalls were very good, they attacked all day and were just tough at it, we got a bit of a rocket at three quarter time which really locked us in and directed us more.

“All we can do now is take it week by week to keep pushing for finals, we have to see what happens with other sides, but we can only focus on ourselves and what we’re doing.”

Score:

Bombers: 1.2 2.2 7.3 9.3 (57)

Buffaloes: 1.3 7.5 9.7 10.9 (69)

Goals:

Bombers:

Rhett Jordan 2

Brendan Kantilla 2

Stanley Tipiloura

Damien Dunn

Jason Jr Puruntatameri

Henry Kerinaiua

Kim Kantilla

Buffaloes:

Daniel Stafford 4

Jarrod Stokes 3

Lachlan Hill

Antonio James

Kokwam Niki

Best:

Bombers:

Brock Orval

Darcy Lang

Stanley Tipiloura

Tanna Blackney-Noter

Kurt Dunn

Buffaloes:

Jarrod Stokes

Baxter Mensch

Nathan Stewart

Kevin Maroney

Timothy Eldridge

PREVIEW

Darwin Buffaloes have another chance to claw back ground off the finals teams, but Tiwi are a resurgent force this season and are sure to be no pushovers.

And the NT News and KommunityTV will be there to stream every moment of the match from 2pm on Saturday.

The Buffs currently sit sixth, two wins outside of the top five, and with very few chances left to climb back, but it’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility.

Captain Jarrod Stokes showed just how dangerous he can be last week with a six-goal final quarter, and can bring that same intensity this time around.

Nick Yarran and ball magnet Baxter Mensch have also impressed this season, and they need big games from them for the rest of the year.

Meanwhile, the Tiwi Bombers have ambitions of climbing the ladder themselves and have their sights firmly on causing an upset here.

The Buffaloes and Bombers clash on Saturday.

Kim, Brendan and Karlson Kantilla are fresh off some playing experience with the Essendon VFL side this week, and will be eager to show off what they learned.

The trio, along with Sam Darley, have been among the best for the Bombers all season, and will be key if this side take the challenge to Buffaloes.

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

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.