Round 12 Hostplus SANFLW League Match Wraps

By WARREN PARTLAND

Sturt has charged into the Hostplus SANFLW League finals on the back of an emphatic 40-point thumping of Glenelg at Wigan Oval.

The equation was simple, the winner advanced beyond the minor round, and the Double Blues dominated the Tigers to claim fourth spot on the ladder.

The tone was established early for the Double Blues with Kate Harris kicking a goal just a minute into the contest. Millie McCarthy added another four minutes later, and when Elsie Dawes goaled late in the first term, the home side was in command.

Not only did Harris nail the opening goal, she was busy accumulating possessions to lead the Double Blues from the front.

The Tigers had issues getting the ball inside their attacking 50 and it took eight minutes into the second quarter to register their first score.

Their first goal, courtesy of Lucy Armitage, did not come until midway through the third term.
Isobel Kuiper, as has been the case all season, was prominent for the Double Blues, along with India Rasheed, while Piper Window was again the leading possession winner for the Tigers.

South Adelaide secured another minor premiership with a hard-fought victory over Norwood at The Parade.

Needing the win to deny Central District from jumping above them on the table, the Panthers withstood plenty of pressure from the Redlegs to grab the valuable premiership points.

Elise Barwick proved the hero for the visitors, kicking a terrific goal 16 minutes into the final term. In fact, all four Panthers’ goals came late in quarters.

Needing a win to have any hope of claiming to second on the points table, the Redlegs hit the front 14 minutes into the third quarter when Charli Hazelhurst kicked a goal.

But there is plenty of fight in the Panthers outfit and they hit back with a goal from Jordann Hickey.

Soriah Moon led the disposal count for the Panthers with 18 and Molly Brooksby was outstanding for the home side, amassing 25 possessions.

The Panthers will take on the Bulldogs in the major second semi-final and the Redlegs meet the Double Blues in the cut-throat first semi-final.

Woodville-West Torrens avoided the wooden spoon with a come-from behind win over North Adelaide at Prospect Oval.

The Eagles kicked the final two goals of the contest in the fourth quarter to secure their third win for the season.

Captain Annie Falkenberg had a huge impact for the Eagles, getting her hands to a team high 20 disposals as well as finishing with seven tackles.

Roosters full back Kristi Harvey continued her strong season, picking up 27 touches. Isabelle Starmer was also prominent for the home side with 24 possessions, nine tackles and seven clearances, and Jess Edwards had 22 disposals.

The Roosters had the early ascendency, bagging three goals in the opening quarter and conceding just one to the Eagles. Incredibly, there would be no more goals from the Roosters against a tackle-hungry Eagles.

Amie Blanden goalled for the visitors a minute into the second term and there would be no more goals until Kayleigh May and Chantelle Mitchell, who finished with two, kicked goals within two minutes in the final term.

Central District will take strong form into the finals after accounting for West Adelaide by 25 points at X Convenience Oval.

Led by a superb three-goal performance from the competition’s leading goalkicker Katelyn Rosenzweig, the Bulldogs had too much firepower for the bottom side.

It was the ninth win for the season for the Bulldogs and they finished second on the ladder, a game below South Adelaide, albeit with superior percentage.

Caitlin Teague topped the disposal count for the home side with 20 and she also finished with an amazing 11 tackles.

Elaine Grigg had 19 disposals, while Rosenzweig showed she is more valuable than just a goalkicker, finishing with 18 possessions.

Gun youngster Lauren Young gave the Bloods some hope of an upset when she marked strongly in a pack and slotted her second goal just second before the three-quarter time siren.

There would be no more scoring from the visitors though, with Chantel Reynolds kicking her second goal six minutes into the final term to seal the deal for the Bulldogs.

The league’s leading possession winner Zoe Venning was again busy for the Bloods to add 23 to her tally. She also finished with six tackles.