Written by Grey Morris for AFL Northern Territory
PINT won the clash of the unbeaten Women's Premier League sides at Marrara's DXC Arena when they led St Mary's all night to win their top-of-the-table clash by 21 points.
The Queenants kicked the first two goals of Friday night's match before easing away from the Saints in the second half to win 6.5 (41) to 3.2 (20) in front of a boisterous crowd at the cricket ground.
Defensively PINT was ruthless, restricting the Saint's forward line to a single point after the main break, with first-season player Tayla Braithwaite prominent in a performance that earned praise from coach Rick Nolan.
"Tayla played very well in her first season of footy on a back flank after coming from a rugby background,'' Nolan said.
"It was just a reward for her after she put a lot into her pre-season, leading the way where we were very good defensively all night.''
Amy Chittick around the ball was her usual busy self and the much underrated Erin Hetherington down back was another Queenant to impress on a big night for the club.
St Mary's showed enough to suggest they will play a big role at the business end of the season, particularly when goalkicking half-forward Emma Stark and vice-captain Jemma Iacono are back in the side.
The Southern Districts-Palmerston game was abandoned before the first bounce due to time constraints following a serious injury late in the men's reserves match.
The Darwin Buffettes shot down the Tiwi Bombers when they won Saturday's clash at TIO Stadium by 128 points.
Buffettes coach Melinda Taylor told her players pre-match not to take the pacy Tiwi women lightly before they proceeded to kick six goals to one in a brilliant first quarter.
Their 19.22 (136) to 1.2 (8) win was proof of the Buffettes' intensity and smart use of the football.
India Baker's work through the centre and on a wing meant the forwards got a big sight of the football, Kiara Henry's leg speed and two goals were important and Stephanie Williams was another good contributor up forward.
Waratah returned to the winners' list with a workmanlike win over the young Wanderers side.
The Eagles failed to score as Waratah's smart use of the football combined with a spread of nine goalkickers produced a 125-point win.
Tahs coach Heidi Thompson watched her players snap a two-match losing streak against frontrunning clubs PINT and St Mary's by getting back in the winners' circle.
"Those losses pretty much gave us an idea of what the benchmark is and winning after a bye is a big plus,'' she said.
Midfielder Alysha Healy was Tahs' best when she created several scoring chances and kicked two goals herself.
Nayana Patmore in the ruck and full forward gave her running players first use of the football and kicked four goals, while Victoria Winstanley's three goals in a midfield-forward role were first class.
NT News Match Reviews here and Match Replays are available 48-hours post-match via AFLNTv YouTube platform.
