By Justin Lillecrapp (NEAFL Media)
Sydney Uni remain unbeaten running out 15-point winners in a tight contest against NT Thunder at TIO Stadium on Saturday night.
NT Thunder got off to an electric start before Sydney Uni took control of the game with a run of six consecutive goals late in the second quarter and early in the third setting up a 14.14 (98) to 12.11 (83) victory.
The result marks the third consecutive win in Darwin for Sydney University, the first time a visiting team has achieved such dominance over Thunder at home.
The first quarter was dominated by Thunder’s livewire forward trio Ross Tungatulum, Dion Munkara and Adam Sambono whom combined for three of the Thunder’s four first quarter goals.
Thunder led by seven points at the first break, but it could have been more had it not been for a late coast to coast goal from Sydney Uni culminating in Jack Hiscox’s first major for the evening.
In the first half, Thunder lost both Joe Anderson and Jarred Erlandson to concussion putting them two interchange players down early in the match which hurt the home side as the game wore on.
Sydney Uni’s elite midfield began to turn the engine up halfway through the second, with Tom Young and Shaun Edwards beginning to dominate around the ball.
In the third, NT Thunder sent Sam Smith into the ruck, working to great effect. Smith’s tap work allowed Thunder to gain first use of the ball leading to consecutive goals cutting the lead to eight points after it was a game-high 21 midway through the term.
Ewing kept the Thunder in the contest with a banana kick 40m out on the fence sailing over the goal umpires head, which was followed up by a second goal from Tungatalum cutting the margin to nine points 22 minutes into the final quarter.
However, a late goal to Sydney Uni’s Jack Dimery sealed the game for the Students in an impressive display continuing their recent dominance over the NT Thunder in the Top End.
Next week, Sydney Uni host Southport in a clash of two undefeated sides. An unblemished first month awaits the winner.
NT Thunder play their only match in Alice Springs in 2018 as they look to bounce back from their first loss of the season against last-placed Redland.
NT Thunder v Sydney Uni at TIO Stadium
SYDNEY UNI 3.1 6.8 12.11 14.14 (98)
NT THUNDER 4.4 6.7 10.8 12.11 (83)
GOALS – Sydney Uni: J Hiscox 2 M Krochmal 2 M Wilson 2 L Stevenson 2 M Thompson J.Derickx S Edwards J Dimery D Bonney T Young. NT Thunder: A Sambono 3 D Ewing 3 R Tungatalum 2 B McLean D Munkara C Williams P White.
BEST – Sydney Uni: S Edwards N Cooper J Hiscox A Lucy M Krochmal T Young NT Thunder: C Williams C Ilett J Monigatti B McLean J Stokes A Ankers.