Palmerston Magpies on the rise after impressive win over Darwin Buffettes in NTFL Women’s League

PALMERSTON’S rise as an NTFL Women’s Premier League power continued on Friday night when they beat the second-placed Darwin Buffettes by 26 points

PINT’s Louisa Bahen-Wright and Districts’ Lateesha Jeffrey vie for possession. Picture: GLENN CAMPBELL

PALMERSTON’S rise as an NTFL Women’s Premier League power continued on Friday night when they beat the second-placed Darwin Buffettes by 26 points.

The Magpies booted 4.3 to nothing in a superb first quarter and were always in control before winning 8.6 (54) to 5.4 (34) on Marrara’s No.2 ground.

Midfielders Natasha Medbury and Janet Baird made sure their forward line had plenty of scoring opportunities and Freda Puruntatameri repaid them by booting three goals.

Billie Byers and Georgina Garling made the Buffettes work for every kick and mark in a performance coach Troy Lewer rated as first class.

“We wanted this win pretty badly and set up the win by kicking those four goals in a hurry,’’ Lewer told the NT News.

“The Buffettes showed they aren’t a top two side for nothing by coming back at us, but the way we held them off showed we’ll be in the mix at finals time.’’

Wanderers played a game in two halves before falling over the line by three points against a gutsy St Mary’s.

Tishara Davern and Georgia Halkitis piloted the Eagles to a 16-point lead at half time before the Saints came back with a three-goal to nothing last half.

Wanderers coach David Totham said his players knew they had been lucky to get the points.

“We worked hard in the first two quarters before the Saints came at us and kept coming,’’ he said.

“It’s a lesson we’ll learn in what has been a season of improvement already and hopefully we’ll get even better with a long way (six minor round games) to go before the finals.’’

Southern Districts took no prisoners when they brushed past a disappointing PINT in Saturday’s twilight game at Marrara.

Ebony Miller was back in goalkicking mode with four majors in Districts’ convincing 9.12 (66) to 1.4 (10) win.

The Crocodiles’ feast of the Queenants’ corpses mean they are only four percentage points behind the third placed Magpies and half a game shy of the Buffettes in the race for a top three berth.