Round 5 Hostplus SANFLW Match Wraps

By ALEXANDRA BULL

Woodville-West Torrens made it five wins in a row with a comfortable 18-point win over West Adelaide at Hisense Stadium.

It was all Eagles on Friday morning, as the ladder leaders dominated the first quarter, as co-captain Poppy Waterford, Klaudia O’Neill, Rosette Zerella and Marlie Fiegert all hit the scoreboard, with Emma Kilpatrick the lone goal kicker for Westies in the first.

Fiegert kept the party going for the Eagles, kicking her second halfway through the second quarter, as ruck Leah Cutting had a field day (32 hit outs, 13 disposals, five marks) as the visitors continued their undefeated season.

It was a scoreless third quarter for both teams but Westies’ Riverland product Sarah Campbell got things back into gear for the Bloods, scoring the first goal of the game since the 18^th minute mark in the second quarter, but the Eagles were too good for the home side.

Klaudia O’Neill kicked her second goal to cap off a cracking performance by the Eagles, as Christina Leuzzi (20 disposals, eight tackles) ran rampant around Hisense Stadium.

Westies’ Zoe Venning once again showed us why she is one of the league’s best, with 28 disposals and six clearances, while youngster Ruby Ballard (nine tackles) was relentless with her pressure, as Westies tried to stop the Eagles as they took flight.

The Eagles will now turn their attention to hosting the Roosters next Saturday, while Westies will look to bounce back against Central District.

North Adelaide’s resurgence under coach Kelly Barltrop continued after the Roosters comfortably accounted for Central District by 35 points at Prospect Oval.

The Roosters got out to an early lead in the first quarter, courtesy of Zara Molloy, followed by goals from Laura Niejalke and Julia Clark in the second quarter to get things out to a three-goal lead.

The Doggies did not find the goals until halfway through the second quarter when Jovanka Zecevic kicked one from a free kick almost directly in front of goals.

Aprille Crooks got the third quarter going with a quick goal, with the Doggies responding via Lauren Breguet, but the Roosters continued to prove too strong for the visitors, with Julia Clark slotting her second of the day to extend the lead back to three goals by the end of the third.

North forward Lucy Reddaway to extend the lead four-goals at the start of the fourth quarter, and the goals just kept coming for the Roosters, much to Central’s dismay.

Goals to Aprille Crooks and Polly Turner solidified North’s dominant performance, before Central’s star Katelyn Rosenzweig kicked her first for the day late in the last quarter.

Julia Clark was prolific for the home-side with 32 disposals, eight marks, six clearances and two goals and was well supported by Ashleigh George (13 disposals, five tackles) and Djimila Totham (22 disposals, six clearances) with the Roosters now sitting third on the ladder.

Central’s Laitiah Huynh continued her stellar start to the season (18 disposals, five clearances) along with Katelyn Rosenzweig (15 disposals, seven marks) but it was not enough to get the visitors the win on Good Friday.

North will look to put an end to the Eagles unbeaten start next Saturday, as Centrals take on West Adelaide at Hisense Stadium.

South Adelaide has overcome a slow start to beat the winless Glenelg by 16 points at Stratarama Stadium on Good Friday.

The Panthers went scoreless in the first quarter, with a goal from Glenelg’s Kaitey Whittaker their only for the first half.

However, the Panthers kicked into gear in the second quarter and kicked four unanswered goals in response, thanks to captain Jordann Hickey (two goals) and Shae Archbold and Lauren Clifton.

It looked like the Tigers were on the comeback in the third quarter, with Kaitey Whittaker kicking her second and Kiahni Russell slotting one, with vice-captain Jess Bates (32 disposals, six clearances) excellent in bringing the Bays back into the game, with the scores level at three quarter time.

South once again put their foot down, with Melissa Anderson slotting her first for the quarter, before Glenelg’s Chloe Harding responded with her first goal for the game, to get the scores level again, but it was all navy and white for the remainder of the game, with Anderson kicking her second of the game and Jordann Hickey capping off her excellent performance with her third major.

Soriah Moon was everywhere for the Panthers, racking up 21 disposals, 32 hit outs and six clearances, and was well assisted by young-gun Emma Charlton (14 disposals, 10 tackles) who backed up her Round Four SANFLW Powerade Breakthrough Player performance.

Mackenzie O’Dea was excellent for the home side (15 disposals, five marks) as well as Matilda Wilmore (seven tackles) in an otherwise frustrating game for Glenelg.

Glenelg will host Norwood on ANZAC Day next Friday as the Tigers look to get the first win of the season, whilst South will head to Thomas Farms Oval to take on Sturt on Sunday morning.

Sturt held on to beat Norwood by three-points after the Redlegs mounted a last quarter comeback at Thomas Farms Oval.

It was a topsy-turvy game, which saw the lead change hands at each break, but it was ultimately the Double Blues who got it done in the end, off the back of an Isobel Kuiper masterclass.

The Sturt superstar was awarded the Ellen Maple Medal, awarded to the most courageous and determined player on the field. Kuiper had a whopping 26 disposals, 14 tackles, 11 clearances and one goal.

The medal is awarded in honour of inaugural Norwood premiership player and Sturt player Ellen Maple, who tragically passed away in 2018.

Double Blues midfielder Claudia Edmonds got the scoring started for the day, but back-to-back goals from Norwood saw the visitors leading at quarter time.

Two quick goals from Saskia Reynolds and Kuiper saw Sturt take the lead, before Kiana Lee kicked her second of the day, with a second goal to Reynolds putting the Blues up by five points at half-time.

It was all Sturt in the third quarter, as the home side kicked three unanswered goals, to give them a 22-point lead heading into the final term.

Norwood produced an almost-stunning comeback, with Amelia Rusden kicking truly to give the Redlegs some momentum, with midfielder Lee slotting back-to-back goals, bringing her haul to four goals, but it was not enough to get Norwood over the line.

Best on ground Kuiper was well supported by Isabella Drew (17 disposals, six marks) and Jasmin Fejo (25 hit outs, seven tackles), with Sturt sitting in fifth spot on the ladder.

Lee did everything she could to keep her side in it, with 15 disposals, six marks and four goals to her name, but it was not enough to give Norwood its second win of the season.

Round six will see Norwood come up against the winless Glenelg on Friday night, with Sturt hosting South Adelaide on Sunday morning.