Round 7 Hostplus SANFLW League Match Wraps

By WARREN PARTLAND

Norwood made an emphatic statement in the Hostplus SANFLW League after conquering Glenelg by 35 points in a powerful performance at Stratarama Stadium.

Claiming a fourth successive win, the Redlegs kept the Tigers scoreless for three quarters to be third on the ladder.

Najwa Allen bagged three goals, including two in the opening quarter when the visitors took control of the contest, in another impressive effort to climb to top of the goal scoring list.

Tahlita Buethke and Lana Schwerdt were prominent for the Redlegs, while the tone for the game was established in the first term when the Tigers struggled to move the ball into attack.

The Redlegs put 21 points on the scoreboard in a dominant opening quarter, before the Tigers responded in the second with two goals and a behind. Incredibly, it was the only term in which they impacted on the scoreboard.

Young Tiger Piper Window continued her outstanding form this season, amassing 20 possessions and 10 tackles to have the fourth-highest disposal tally in the League.

South Adelaide took a significant step closer to the SANFLW minor premiership after escaping with a two-point win over Woodville-West Torrens at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval.

The Panthers managed just one goal, but the two premiership points have moved them a game clear of Central District and two above Norwood, Sturt and Glenelg

In testing wet and breezy weather conditions, the Eagles seriously challenged the Panthers in a performance which belied their bottom-of-the ladder status.

The home side, led by a productive Abbey Dowrick, put two behinds on the scoreboard, before Ella Little took advantage of a free kick at the top of the goal square to slot the major after 14 minutes.

It was to be the end of the scoring for the Eagles, however.

Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlop was dangerous in attack for the Panthers, although she wasted a couple of prime scoring opportunities in adding three successive behinds.

Appropriately, it was Brooke Boileau who nailed the match-winner in the third term. The Eagles were penalised for holding the ball and coughed up a 25m penalty for failing to correctly deliver the ball to the opposition.

Boileau had a huge influence with 20 disposals and 10 tackles and she capitalised on the 25m gift to kick a terrific set shot goal.

Central District enhanced its reputation as a serious title-contender after overwhelming West Adelaide by 54 points at Hisense Stadium.

Led by a brilliant opening quarter from elusive Elaine Grigg, the Bulldogs amassed their highest score in the SANFLW and earned their biggest win over the Bloods to grab second on the points table.

Grigg had six possessions in the first term and nailed two goals, before kicking the first major of the second quarter.

With Julia Teakle also on target, the Bulldogs blew the game apart with three goals in five minutes in the second quarter. Their efficiency was outstanding with three goals from their first five visits inside 50 for the term.

Zoe Venning was her usual busy self for the Bloods, but the home side struggled to match the intensity and pressure of the Bulldogs.

Maria Moloney was outstanding for the Bulldogs, along with tough onballer Shelby Smith.

Sturt improved its hopes of finals action with a convincing 14-point victory over North Adelaide in the grand final rematch at Prospect Oval.

The Double Blues claimed the vital premiership points on the back of a powerful first half display, putting 5.2 on the scoreboard and keeping the reigning premier goalless.

Alex Ballard was outstanding for the visitors, picking up a team-high 24 possessions and kicking a brilliant goal from a set shot nearing half-time to give her side a commanding 29-point buffer.

The Double Blues had the territorial ascendency in the first half and took advantage of a super efficiency to bag all five goals in the first half.

The Roosters showed plenty of fight in the second half, but the damage had been done, and they have dropped to two games plus percentage outside the top four on the ladder.

Ella Quinn was busy for the home side, amassing 30 touches, while Katelyn Pope, picked up by Port Adelaide in the AFLW supplementary draft, was again prominent.

The Double Blues are fourth on the ladder, courtesy of superior percentage over Glenelg.