Round 1 U16 Torrens University Cup Wrap

A dynamic third quarter helped South Adelaide shake off an indifferent start and defeat Sturt by 21 points at Thebarton Oval on Saturday.

The Double Blues charged out of the blocks, holding sway by 10 points at quarter-time and four at half-time, largely thanks to strong-marking key forward Chad Reschke, who bombed four first-half goals.

But the Panthers emerged from the break playing a more direct brand of footy and outscored Sturt 5.2 to 0.2 to pull ahead by 26 points at three-quarter-time.

The Blues, who had more inside-50s (44-36), never threw in the towel.

They closed to within 15 points on Declan Gladigau’s fine sidestepping six-pointer but by the time Kobe McEntee’s long-range missile from inside the centre-square rolled through, it was too late.

Gladigau (22 disposals), McEntee (21) and Luca Slade (19) – the son of Central District’s eight-time premiership-winning legend Matthew Slade – were Sturt’s primary possession-gatherers.

For South, Blake Rodrigues (25) and Tom Wheaton (20) found plenty of the pill and full-forward Sebastian Hoeck (three goals) finished clinically.

Glenelg made a bright start to its bid for a fifth successive Under-16 Torrens University Cup, downing North Adelaide by 30 points at Coopers Stadium on Sunday.

The Tigers, premiers every year from 2016-19 – the 2020 competition was cancelled due to COVID-19 – nailed the first four goals of the contest before keeping the Roosters at arm’s length for the remainder.

Kaidyn Weber (28 possessions) and skipper Ben Ridgway (27 disposals, 10 marks) were influential on the ball while spearhead Charlie Hillier (four goals) proved a match-winner in attack.

North fell 20 points behind after being held goalless at quarter-time and still trailed by 30 points at half-time before bursting to life in the third stanza.

With midfielders Angus Tully (31 touches, seven clearances) and Luke Harvey (30, seven) getting on top at the stoppages, the Roosters conjured three majors in as many minutes to slice the deficit to 12 points.

But the Bays responded swiftly through Hillier, who kicked three third-quarter goals, pushing the margin back out to 31 points at the last change, which proved ample.

Woodville-West Torrens made an emphatic start to its Under-16 Torrens University Cup campaign, belting Central District by 77 points in Thursday night’s season opener at X Convenience Oval.

Pat Toole (34 possessions, one goal) and Brody Mair (23 disposals) were damaging in the midfield, while Patrick Weckert (25 touches, 11 marks) starred, in defence and briefly in attack.

Toole directly set up four of the first six quickfire goals and snagged one himself as the Eagles stormed 38 points clear at quarter-time, virtually sealing the result.

Seb Wauer’s neat checkside goal on the run was the Bulldogs’ only moment of first-quarter joy and their last until Ethan Scholz’s consolation major late in the game.

The second term was a goalless stalemate before the Eagles recaptured their best form in the third, holding Central scoreless and moving ahead by 60 points at three-quarter-time before continuing the domination in the fourth.

Drew Baxter, Harry Dodd and Jacob Hickman all slotted two majors for the Eagles in an impressive team performance.

For the Dogs, William O’Brien (27 possessions, 12 marks) was prolific and vice-captain Jayden Matz (18 disposals, 24 hit-outs) rucked tirelessly.

Norwood staved off a spirited fightback from West Adelaide to hang on by four points in a thriller at Coopers Stadium on Sunday.

The Redlegs led by 16 points on Connor Butcher’s running goal on the quarter-time siren and by as many as 23 in the second period but spent much of the last term repelling the desperate Bloods.

Classy Max Downs (26 possessions, three goals, 10 marks) was magnificent on the ball and in attack, booting West’s first major and their last before the full-time siren sounded to deny his side one last opportunity.

Butcher (27 disposals, seven clearances), Rohan Bailey (23 touches) and William Rowlands (22) were industrious for Norwood, while Will Rozenbilds (three goals) ensured the scoreboard largely ticked along in the Legs’ favour.

Norwood dictated most of the first half before the Bloods, who were paced by Downs, Lukas Zvaigzne (27 possessions), Charlie Haysman (24 disposals) and Judd Hansen (21 touches, two goals), burst to life late in the second stanza.

Three unanswered Westies majors reduced the Redlegs’ advantage to four points at half-time before the home side increased it back out to 15 at three-quarter-time and then survived the hard-tackling Bloods’ gallant fourth-term assault.