The Tiwi Bombers have secured a double chance in the upcoming NTFL finals with a hard-fought 13-point victory over Wanderers that has lifted the side into third place.

The important win saw the team rise from fourth place to lock in a qualifying final date with an in-form St Mary’s line-up on Saturday night at TIO Stadium in Darwin.

The final month of the home and away season was mixed for the Bombers but kicked off strongly with an impressive 38-point defeat of Darwin Buffaloes in round 15 to extend the side’s winning streak to six.

Charlie Molyneux continued his bright start in the red and black in another terrific performance in his second game for the club, while Ashton Hams and legendary Bomber Austin Wonaeamirri did the damage on the scoreboard with four and three goals respectively.

A highly anticipated clash with ladder-leader Nightcliff followed and an encouraging start had the Tigers on the back foot.

Leading by seven points at the first change, nine at half-time and seven at three-quarter time, the Bombers were on the cusp of a huge victory, but Nightcliff – still with just one loss to its name this season – would not lie down.

The reigning premiers clicked into gear in the final term, piling on six goals to Tiwi’s two to run over the top of the Bombers in a classic encounter.

Tiwi stars Nathan Djerrkura and Dion Munkara were among the side’s leading players, while Wonaemirri and Harley Puruntatameri (three goals apiece) and ‘The Human Highlight Reel’ Ross Tungatalum (two goals) proved damaging.

Typically, there was no shortage of red and black highlights on the day. Among them was a classy goal from Adam Tipungwuti – the cousin of star Essendon Bomber Anthony Tipungwuti who has since been added to North Melbourne’s VFL list – and a mind-boggling goal from the always-dazzling Puruntatameri (see both below). Another big challenge lay ahead for Tiwi as the team looked to get back on track in the penultimate round against St Mary’s, but the high-flying Saints were far too strong.

The Bombers led by a point at quarter-time, but St Mary’s responded powerfully from then on, booting 11 goals to three in the remaining three quarters to race away with a dominant 49-point success.

It piled the pressure onto Tiwi heading into its final home and away game of the season against Wanderers, where a loss would send the side into a must-win elimination final.

The Eagles were there to play, matching the Bombers impressively throughout most of the contest to lead by eight points at half-time and enter the final chance with scores level.

But the Bombers did what good teams do, breaking free when it counted with six final-quarter goals to outlast their valiant opponents and claim the stirring 13-point win.

Gerrard Cunningham – in his first game since early November – returned in style with four crucial goals, with Tungatalum and inspirational skipper Patrick Heenan adding a pair of goals each among nine goalkickers in the strong team performance.

Lachlan Howe was named as Tiwi’s best, while Puruntatameri stunned fans again with a truly outrageous goal to top off a remarkable season in the red and black.

The dashing Bomber sprinted at top speed to take a mark on the wing and he was quickly off to the races, bursting clear of his opponents on a four-bounce run before slotting the goal with his silky right foot from a near-impossible angle.  

The victory sets up another enormous clash with the Saints this week as the sides look to kick off their finals campaigns with a win. The first bounce set for 7:00pm.