THE Big River Hawks were pushed all the way by a determined Darwin Buffaloes side, but eventually claimed an important 25-point win at TIO Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
While the ladder would suggest this to have been a straight forward fixture for the Hawks, the Darwin side played above its recent form line before Big River stamped its authority with an eight-goal second half to run out 12.12 (84) to 9.5 (59) winners.
After a number of big wins in recent weeks, the Hawks were perhaps guilty of a touch of complacency against the Under 18 cellar-dwellers in the first term, with Darwin kicking the first major goal on the way to a four-point lead at the break.
It was a disappointing way to start in the Hawks’ first appearance on the NTFL’s main stage and the group was left a little shell-shocked.
However, with Duane Snape leading the way on his return to the side, the Hawks lifted the intensity in the second term.
Dwayne Anderson (two goals) was another one to return to the side and despite splitting the webbing in his hand in the second term he started to have an influence as both teams added three goals and the margin was reduced to three at the long change.
Dylan Cann began to assert himself in the backline in the third term and - in his first game for the season - Riley Ross, given the task of quelling NT Thunder regular Jed Anderson, started to dominate that battle.
The Hawks lifted across the park as well, with Roy Assan continuing to develop as a leader, again playing an important role - and three unanswered goals for the term gave Big River its first break on the scoreboard - a 19-point buffer at the last change.
To their credit, the Buffaloes refused to yield despite the pressure in the last term and, although the Hawks added five goals for the quarter, with Harvey Rosewood (three goals) and Jake Farrell (two goals) both featuring, a four-goal quarter from Darwin ensured the contest remained just that up until the final siren.
The game will serve as a good wake-up call for Big River, who takes on arguably the form side of the competition next weekend, a fired-up Palmerston Magpies unit who will be looking to atone for the match in round one, in which the Hawks claimed a 69-point win.
The Hawks now stand alone at the top of the table after Southern Districts went down to Waratah.
However, Palmerston now sits in second, a game and percentage behind Big River.
Big River Hawks 12.12 (84) defeat
Darwin Buffaloes 9.5 (59)
Big River Hawks goal kickers:
H. Rosewood 3, J. Farrell 2, D. Anderson 2, D. Snape 2, B. Thompson , R. Assan , L. Watego , D. Turner
Best players: D. Snape, J. Farrell, R. Assan, D. Cann, R. Ross, H. Rosewood
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