THE NSW/ACT Rams have held off a spirited Northern Territory Thunder to record an eight-point win in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships clash at ANZ Stadium.

Keiran Emery finished with four goals while Jordan Williams, Liam Johnson and Thomas Young were the Rams’ best.

Roland Ah Chee was outstanding for the Thunder with a game-high 30 touches and two goals. Troy Taylor (three goals) and Robert Hale (two) provided good targets up forward.

The Rams started brightly with Chaz Sargeant providing a strong target up forward but he could only convert one of his three early chances.

Diminutive NT half-forward Curtly Reid roved a smart goal to even the ledger before his side took control.

Taylor and Hale proved a handful for the NSW/ACT defence with three goals between them and despite a major from Swans scholarship holder Ryan Bottin-Noonan, NSW/ACT trailed by 11 points at the first change.

Sargeant opened the second term his second goal for the Rams as the home side’s size and strength began to tell in the wet conditions.

Will Langford was excellent with his rebound from defence and the NSW/ACT tall forwards were too strong for their undersized opponents.

Emery slotted two goals for the term as the Rams edged in front but Taylor’s third goal after the half-time siren gave the Thunder a two-point lead.

Promising NT tall Steven May spent most of the first half in defence but he started the second half in attack and it paid dividends as he soccered the first goal of the third term. 

But the Rams hit back quickly through Emery and Dylan McNeil – who booted two goals in two minutes –  to wrest back the lead.

Jason Tutt kicked truly after Aidan Riley was collected late in a marking contest as NSW/ACT headed into the last quarter with a 14-point lead.

The Rams’ fitness told in the final term as they held the Thunder at bay, despite the excellent efforts of lively midfielder Roland Ah Chee.

NSW/ACT Rams  2.3 6.6 10.7 12.10 (82)
Northern Territory Thunder 4.2 7.2 8.5 11.8 (74)

GOALS
NSW/ACT: Keiran Emery 4, Chaz Sargeant 2, Dylan McNeil 2, Ryan Bottin-Noonan, Kaine Stevens, Jason Tutt, Liam Johnson
Northern Territory: Troy Taylor 3, Robert Hale 2, Curtly Reid 2, Roland Ah Chee 2, Steven May, Tim Kelly

BEST
NSW/ACT: Liam Johnson, Jordan Williams, Will Langford, Thomas Young, Dylan McNeil, Chaz Sargeant
Northern Territory: Roland Ah Chee, Troy Taylor, Charlie McAdam, James Wray, Curtly Reid