Students school Thunder in big Top End victory

Sydney University has made a statement towards the competition leaders after a commanding 88-point victory over the NT Thunder at TIO Stadium on Saturday evening.

The Students produced a four-quarter effort to steal the Round 19 contest from the Thunder in a dominant performance, 21.14 (140) to 7.10 (52).

Thunder had a positive opening quarter with Kieran Delahunty booting the first major of the game in the first four minutes to take the lead from the Students early on.

But Sydney Uni was quick to answer back with four consecutive goals heading into the second quarter.  

The Round 18 bye looked detrimental for the battling Thunder side with Sydney Uni outclassing the home side with their run and carry and pinpoint execution.

It didn’t take long for the Students to put another goal on the scoreboard with Montgomery Krochmal booting the first major of the second term to give his team the momentum to carry them through the remainder of the game.

With Dylan McLachlan unable to return the field due to a hamstring injury the damaged Thunder side was happy to hear the sound of the half-time siren.

The Thunder returned to the field with a few positional changes in an effort to crawl themselves back into the contest, but NEAFL Rising Star nominee Harry Morrison took an intercept mark late in the third term to make it his third goal for that quarter, and with that destroyed any chances of a late redemption from the Thunder.

Sydney Uni ultimately put the result beyond doubt with a eight-goal-to-two third term blowing out to 64 points by the last change..

Thunder put on their best performance in the final term but Sydney continued to dominate in every field of play which led them to lock in their Round 19 victory.

Despite the result, club debutant Ed Barlow had an impressive opening game for the home side getting his first goal as well as earning himself 20 disposals.

Alongside him was Abraham Ankers (26 disposals, 10 inside 50s, one goal) and Ben Rioli (23 disposals, 10 rebound 50s, one goal) who were among their better players.

For the Students, Morrison bagged five goals and Jake Bartholomaeus led the disposals with 28.

Sydney University is looking confident heading into next week’s clash against the Redland Bombers at Scottsdale Park, with NT Thunder hosting Southport at TIO Stadium.

NT Thunder v Sydney University at TIO Stadium

SYDNEY UNI 5.3 8.6 16.10 21.14 (140)
NT THUNDER 3.1 4.3 6.6 7.10 (52)

GOALS – Sydney Uni: H Morrison 5 M Krochmal 4 J Stern 3 W Sierakowski 2 J Bartholomaeus 2 T Davies 2 L Stevenson N Foster. NT Thunder: K Delahunty 2 E Barlow J Jeffrey D Williams A Ankers B Rioli.
BEST – Sydney Uni: T Banuelos H Morrison M Krochmal B Stewart J Bartholomaeus J Stern. NT Thunder: B Rioli A Ankers K Parnell J Farrer B Rusca E Barlow.

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