38 SPORT MONDAY APRIL 28 2014 Thunder are the real deal but fans aren’t sure

I HOPE Top End footy fans their own family members that NT News is heavy to the point from a week of alcohol-fuelled late afternoon timeslot, at least aren’t voting with their feet by would outnumber the 300 at- of saturation, with team line- celebrations to beat Ainslie in on a trial basis. staying away from Territory tending right now. ups, player profiles and even a the cross-conference final in That would free up Satur- Thunder home games. Another question often coach’s box to impart the Alice Springs. day night AFL telecasts and Chief executive Jarred Ilett, thrown at me is ownership. thoughts of Chairman Clarke. Winning has never been a allow fans to make the quick chairman Linc Jenkin and his Have Territory fans adopted Is it an overkill? Is there a problem for Thunder. Winning trip from Marrara to home. selectors have done everything Thunder as their own after five sameness about it that local the hearts and minds of their But in the end, as the Bea- possible to create a Territory and-a-bit seasons in the fans cannot relate to, with own fans has become a hurdle. tles once said in their last big flavour, including the recruit- NEAFL? many of them coming from a One stumbling block is live hit The Long and Winding ment this year of AFL trio Ross Tungatalum to that equa- The truth is the average fan South Australian background? AFL telecasts, a fact leagues Road, the love you make is Alwyn Davey, Nathan Djerr- tion and a Territory-wide footy continues to treat Thunder as a Thunder was the flavour of right around the country have equal to the love you take. kura and Liam Patrick. side begins to take shape. novelty, a toy they can watch the year in 2011 when it steam- to contend with at night and in The players and Thunder Add Willie Rioli Jr, Jack So where are all the fans? and play with before tuning rolled a shell-shocked Morn- the afternoon. want that love to extend past Long, Abraham Ankers, Mit- Surely those names should at- out just as quickly. ingside in the northern It might be time to move the boundary line. The fans are chell Taylor and the returning tract a rent-a-crowd among The media coverage by the conference final and emerged Thunder’s home games to a still making up their mind.

Mark Winterbottom guns his Ford Falcon to the line at Frost-ing Pukekohe yesterday and then enjoys the rewards of victory. AUCKLAND 500 on cake: RACE 13 (69 laps, 200km) 1 (Ford) 1hr16mins14.0720sec 2 Scott McLaughlin (Volvo) 1:16:21.0527 3 Chaz Mostert (Ford) 1:16:30.9526 no Kiwi 4 (Holden) 1:16:37.5840 5 Michael Caruso (Nissan) 1:16:39.3213 6 (Holden) 1:16:42.0240

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS 1 Mark Winterbottom 941pts fairytale 2 (Holden) 834 3 Fabien Coulthard (Holden) 824 FORD’S Mark Winterbottom The result has also ex- 4 James Courtney (Holden) 781 (pictured) denied Kiwi young- tended his series lead to 107 5 Shane van Gisbergen (Holden) 777 ster Scott McLaughlin a fairy- points over Holden veteran 6 (Holden) 775 tale finish to his home round in Craig Lowndes. Auckland with victory in the “I made a bit of a bodgy start weekend’s fourth and final V8 ... but my crew got me in front,” FULL RESULTS, PAGE 49 Supercars race. the man known as “Frosty” Pole position holder said. “I wanted to lead going McLaughlin was eyeing off away, not just last night.” Volvo’s maiden championship A win to McLaughlin win and his second at Puke- would’ve seen history repeat kohe yesterday, but had Win- itself. Volvo last won an Aus- terbottom snatch it away from tralian touring car champion- him, with his flying Falcon in ship race 28 years ago to the the 200km battle. day – with a Kiwi at the helm. The reigning Bathurst win- McLaughlin started from ner started from fourth but pole, his second of the week- crossed the line nearly seven end, but this time had the ad- seconds ahead of his 20-year- vantage of being the sole driver old rival, with teammate Chaz on the front row. Mostert finishing third. Tim Slade’s Holden stalled Holden’s local hero Shane moments before the race got van Gisbergen and Nissan’s underway and was forced to Michael Caruso rounded out start from pitlane. the top five. Winterbottom gradually Winterbottom’s triumph crept up after the first round of followed his win and second- pitstops – aided by an air hose placing in Saturday’s two that came off McLaughlin’s sprint races, earning him the helmet and distract him. Jason Richards Memorial Tro- Lowndes, meanwhile, came phy – awarded to the best over- in at a lowly 20th, while his all driver of the round in Red Bull teammate and de- honour of the late New Zea- fending champion Jamie land racer. Whincup finished 10th. FOOTROT FLATS GLOVES WatchFrom the video NT ofto Marcos Royals Ambrose star heraldsun.com.au punchingTERRITORIAN rival Nascar paceman driverers off successive Casey deliveries Mears OFF Kane Richardson fired for Ra- early in the innings to help dis- jasthan Royals in Indian Prem- miss Bangalore for 70. ier League action at the The 23-year-old former weekend. PINT bowler has been a big hit Richardson, playing in his already in the tournament, first season at the Shane Wat- taking five wickets in three son-captained Royals, finished matches at an average of 13.6 with 2-18 off four overs in his to be equal-eighth on this side’s six-wicket win over year’s IPL wicket-taking. Royal Challengers Bangalore. It’s Richardson’s second Highlights included remov- stint in the lucrative Indian ing star international players competition after three match- Yuvraj Singh and AB de Villi- es for Pune Warriors in 2013.

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