2023/24 TIO NTFL Wrap: Women's Premier League - Round 8

A PINT special, Nightcliff's fifth win in a row and stellar performances from top four sides St Mary's and Waratah made the headlines in Round 8 matches in the 2023/24 TIO NTFL Women's Premier League.

Reigning premier PINT and spearhead Steph Lawrence had a day out against the struggling Tiwi Bombers at Marrara's DXC Arena.

The Queenants won their seventh game in a row by beating the Bombers by a whopping 159 points. Steph Lawrence stamping her authority on the fixture by booting an impressive 11 goals.

Coach Rick Nolan, who will take charge of the NTFL representative side in late January, was impressed by Lawrence's shot making.

"Steph's decision making was very good, along with her shots around the body and from impossible angles showed her class in front of goals,'' Nolan said.

Midfielders Carly Remmos and Ruby Benham played the role of suppliers to a tee as PINT kicked 25.16 (166) to 1.1 (7) on the wide-open spaces of the cricket ground.

Nightcliff's season went from good to very good after its fifth win in a row since losing narrowly to top two sides PINT and St Mary's in the opening fortnight of the season.

The Tigers led the enthusiastic Lady Crocodiles by 27 points at half-time in oppressive heat at TIO Stadium before a disciplined second half brought them a 76-point win.

Coach Andrew Rock said a late run of goals sealed the win for his side that sets up big games against Waratah, St Mary's and the Darwin Buffettes in the next three weeks.

"It was a good win in tough conditions, where Gabby Deller in the middle and Katrina Simmons opposed to GWS Giants ruck Fleur Davies were good for us,'' Rock said.

"Kat was a bit nervous knowing she was coming up against an elite ruck, but she took it up to her and wasn't out of place at all.''

St Mary's continued their stellar season with a physically draining 40-point win over a determined Palmerston in their 2pm game at TIO Stadium.

The Saints kicked eight goals to two against the Magpies, who made them earn every kick, handball and mark with some strong chasing and tackling.

Saints coach Ryan Smith told his players before the game that Palmerston would take the game up them despite their sixth position on the WPL ladder.

"Credit to Palmerston, they haven't been winning a lot of games but they haven't been getting flogged with the talented young team they're trying to mature,'' he said.

"They are a bit unorthodox, they started taking the body a bit which shocked a few of our girls as the game became a physical one rather than a test of skills.''

Jo Miller in a multitude of roles, captain Billie Byers, Ally Trigg and 50-gamer Emily Forshaw were among several good players in a Saints side that sits second on the ladder with six wins from seven games.

Waratah won its third game in a row by accounting for a surprisingly lacklustre Darwin Buffettes by almost 11 goals in their night game at Gardens Oval.

Last season's grand finalists did most things right on their home ground with Stephanie O'Brien, Ruby O'Dwyer and the returning Lisa Roberts big contributors in the side's 9.16 (70) to 1.0 (6) win.