U18 Torrens University Cup Semi-Final Wrap

By ZAC MILBANK

Glenelg advanced to the U18 Torrens University Cup Grand Final with an ominous 52-point Second Semi-Final win against Woodville-West Torrens at ACH Group Stadium. 

Leading by just 12 points at the first change, the Bays blew the game open with a seven-goal second term, while restricting the Eagles to just one major.

It allowed the Tigers to open up a commanding 50-point lead at half-time before the Eagles kicked the first four goals of the third quarter to trim the deficit to 26 points.

This would be as close as they would get though, as the minor premier kicked another five goals to one, to finish the contest in strong fashion.

As has been the case this season, Glenelg had a multitude of significant contributors, led by Hunter Window with 29 disposals and a goal as teammates Lewis Rayson and Jackob Ryan each collected 24 possessions.

Harry Tunkin booted four goals and Jack Harding three for the Tigers as Hugh Stagg also kicked a pair to go with his 22 touches.

Eagles playmaker Jase Burgoyne finished with a game-high 29 disposals while teammates Brock Thomson (23 disposals) and Dustin Launer (20 disposals, seven clearances and a goal) battled hard.

Athletic key forward Jordan Lukac was his team’s only multiple goal kicker with two majors as his Woodville-West Torrens outfit now prepares for Saturday’s Preliminary Final against West Adelaide at Thebarton Oval.

A seven-goal first term blitz paved the way for West Adelaide to hold off South Adelaide by just 11 points in the First Semi-Final at ACH Group Stadium.

South’s Jack Delean kicked the opening goal of the contest after four minutes but the Bloods responded with the next seven in succession to open up a 36-point break at quarter-time.

The Panthers – who won the overall inside 50 count 42-33 – then slowly chipped away at West’s advantage to trim their deficit to just 18 points at the final change.

But the Bloods continually found a way to steady the contest with a timely goal, starting with tall forward Harry Lemmey’s third in the opening minute of the fourth quarter.

Fellow West bigman Oscar Steene stepped up with two vital goals in the last stanza, ensuring the fourth major kicked by South’s Jaiden Magor in the 27th minute would be the final one of the match.

Now set to progress to Saturday’s Preliminary Final against Woodville-West Torrens at Thebarton Oval, West had Tyson Coe lead the way with 24 disposals as teammates Cade Kennedy, Jesse Thackeray and Kobe Ryan each had 22.

South’s Arlo Draper, sent back from the Panthers’ League team, earned a game-high 25 disposals, seven tackles and six clearances while Will Verrall tallied 22 possessions and 11 clearances.

Magor kicked four goals for the Panthers while Delean contributed three in what proved to be South’s final outing of the season.