The Bulldogs beat the Tigers in a typically hard fought Tiwi Island Football League Grand Final
Another Tiwi Island Football League grand final produces another great spectacle and a Bulldogs triumph in front of a big crowd on Bathurst Island
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THE Walama Bulldogs snapped a six-year premiership drought when they beat the Imalu Tigers by 12 points in the Tiwi Island Football League grand final.
The Bulldogs won 15.5 (95) to 12.11 (83) on a rainy day on Bathurst Island where the lead changed twice in a frantic last quarter.
Former St Kilda listed player, occasional Tiwi Bomber and permanent Imalu forward Ross Tungatalum won the Brother Pye Medal as the best player on the ground.
Walama coach Richard “Rambo’’ Puruntatameri, the former Waratah champion, heaped praise on his players after the hard earned win.
“It’s a great feeling to win the Cup, we only played Imalu twice all season because of the road conditions and the rain and that was in the second semi and the grand final where we beat them twice,’’ he said.
“I’m very proud of my boys, it’s been a great season for the club and I hope we can go on with it next season.’’
Walama led for all but a brief period in the last quarter when Tungatalum snapped his fourth goal to put Imalu in front.
The Bulldogs got out to a three-goal lead in the first quarter and a half and looked set for a comfortable afternoon with forward William Dulla booting three early goals.
But Imalu persisted with Tungatalum a constant menace to the Walama defence.
The Pye medallist could have kicked seven or eight goals, only his inaccuracy in front of goals preventing an avalanche of majors against the hard working Bulldogs defence.
WALAMA BULLDOGS 6.2 7.3 10.5 15.5 (95)
IMALU TIGERS 3.0 5.7 8.7 12.11 (83)
GOALS — Walama: W Dulla 4 M Thompson 2 B Tipiloura 2 K Kantilla 2 R Darcy F Kantilla H Tipungwuti M Tipiloura M Puautjimi. Imalu: R Tungatalum 4 A McKinnes 3 B Puruntatameri 2 G Alaminkara 2 S Lorenzo.
BEST — Walama: W Dulla K Kantilla M Tipiloura. Imalu: R Tungatalum (Brother Pye Medal) B Palipuaminni M Tipungwuti.
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