The Bulldogs were understrength for the final week of the university semester break but Norths would have troubled any side in Saturday’s  12.13 (85) to 7.6 (48) victory.

 The Tigers led by 14 points at halftime but broke open the game kicking 4.7 to just a solitary Bulldogs goal in the third term to lead by 39 points at the final change.

  Wilson booted six goals and Banbury four goals to finish off the good work from the Tigers midfield, with Norths co-captain Dale Perrett declaring the performance the best from his side in the past three years.

  ‘‘We’ve been working towards that kind of effort for a while,’’ Perrett said.

 ‘‘They had a  few out but still had a good side in, but we showed intensity from the start and played the game on our terms for most of the day.

‘‘We’ve struggled to kick a score this season and it was important that we finished off the good work and the forwards did that. 

‘‘The last time we played them we won but not really on the scoreboard and in strange circumstances, so we were motivated to show that we can beat them in the proper way.’’

 Norths won the round six clash but were effectively handed victory after the Bulldogs led by almost 10 goals in the final term but then had their entire score stripped for having an extra player on the field for a short time in the fourth term.

  ‘‘Even though they outplayed us that day early on we kicked like five behinds and today it was good to get reward for our play and get up and about for the pressure we applied on the scoreboard,’’ Perrett said.

 The Tigers join the Bulldogs in equal second (14 points), with the clubs chasing second spot and the finals double chances behind unbeaten Wollongong Lions.

‘‘Last season we had a tough road to the granny (grand final) and if we can finish top two that’ll be huge,’’ Perrett said.

 In other round 12 games, Shellharbour Suns kept their top four hopes alive after winning all four quarters in a 9.12 (66) to 4.7 (31) victory over Nowra Blues at Kully Bay Oval.

  Fifteen-year-old Kale Talbot played well on debut for the Suns, while Troy Cole booted four goals.

  Regular Suns forward Ramez Dagher starred at centre half back, along with Mitch Bates and Kade Kentwell.

In the other round 12 match, Josh Krull booted four goals and Ricky Neels three goals to lead Kiama to a 11.16 (82) to 8.5 (53) home win over Bomaderry.

  Meanwhile, in Sydney AFL Division One under 19s, South Coast Thunder posted their fourth win of the season, beating bottom side East Coast Eagles 8.8 (56) to 5.7 (37) at Kanebridge Oval.

 Brendan Davis was among the Thunder’s best player plus booted two goals, while Luke Essenstam and James Bell also had big games.

 South Coast AFL ladder: Wollongong Lions 20; Wollongong Bulldogs 14; Northern Districts 14; Kiama 12; Bomaderry 10, Shellharbour 10, Nowra 8.