Round 12 Hostplus SANFLW Match Wraps

By WARREN PARTLAND

Central District used a record-breaking final quarter onslaught to claim an historic Hostplus SANFLW League victory over Glenelg at Stratarama Stadium.

The Bulldogs piled on 7.5 in the final term, the highest scoring quarter in the eight-year history of the league, to triumph by 46 points.

It was the Bulldogs’ first win over the Tigers after losing their previous eight encounters and cemented their spot in the finals. The double chance is also within their grasp after climbing to within a point of the second-placed Tigers, who have fallen from top spot.

The Bulldogs, led by ever-reliable captain Shelby Smith, dominated clearances in the final quarter and the league’s leading goalkicker Katelyn Rosenzweig reigned supreme in attack to finish with four majors.

The Tigers led by 14 points at quarter time after restricting the Bulldogs to just a behind. The home side grew the lead to 16 points in the second term and still led by 11 at half-time despite gun midfielder Jessica Bates having her influence limited by Jovanka Zecevic.

Incredibly, the Bulldogs bagged the final nine goals to level the scores at three-quarter time and then tear the game apart in the final quarter.

Sturt still has dreams of finals action after it conquered West Adelaide by two points at Thomas Farms Oval.

The victory, a fifth and second in succession for the Double Blues this season, lifted them to equal on the ladder with the Bloods, three points behind fourth-placed Norwood with two rounds remaining.

The finals hopes of the Double Blues and Bloods were kept alive 24 hours later when the Redlegs were upset by Woodville-West Torrens.

The Double Blues and Bloods traded blows in an evenly matched contest with the home side having a narrow lead at each change.

The leading stat winners were familiar names with young gun India Rasheed leading the charge for the Double Blues and Bloods’ star Zoe Venning amassing 25 touches, 10 tackles and seven clearances.

It was a fourth consecutive loss for the Bloods, who got within a point late in the game when Illish Ross nailed a goal.

South Adelaide put its defensive reputation on show to climb to the top of the ladder with a commanding 51-point victory over North Adelaide at Prospect Oval.

The Panthers have conceded an average of only 20.5 points a game and they were again miserly against the Roosters, allowing the home side just two goals.

The win enabled the Panthers to grab the lead in the race for the minor premiership, jumping above Glenelg, who have dropped their past two games, with two rounds remaining.

The Roosters showed plenty of fight, but the Panthers nailed the opening four goals, including three to Emily Brockhurst, while coughing up only two behinds, to take control.

After the Roosters’ Aprille Crooks kicked the side’s first goal 14 minutes into the third quarter to maintain hope of an upset, they were again on the back foot when the Panthers bagged two quick goals in response.

Hard-working midfielder Nikki Nield sparked much of the action for the visitors, while Jordann Hickey continued her impressive form.

Panthers ruck Soriah Moon was a dominant force, not only winning the taps, but picking up plenty of possessions, to be named MVP.

Brockhurst finished with four goals to remain in the hunt for the leading goalkicker crown.

No matter what Woodville-West Torrens does in the final two rounds, it has already achieved its most successful season in its six-year history after upsetting Norwood at Coopers Stadium.

It was the improving Eagles’ fourth win. Their previous best effort had been three, a feat they recorded for each of the past three seasons.

Back-to-back goals to Rosetta Zerella and Klaudia O’Neill within two minutes in the fourth quarter enabled the Eagles to retrieve an eight-point deficit after Adrienne Davies kicked a major to put the Redlegs in a commanding position.

The loss has put the Redlegs under pressure to keep their spot in the top four, with West Adelaide and Sturt three points behind and threatening a late charge.

Eagles’ Leah Cutting was the dominant ruck and the visitors constantly went forward in the first half, only to pick out opponents and waste opportunities.

After scores were level at half-time, the Redlegs punished the Eagles for missing scoring chances when Mykaela Walker goalled from a rare visit inside 50 in the first 10 minutes of the third term.