Round 7 Hostplus SANFLW Match Wraps

By WARREN PARTLAND

West Adelaide climbed back into the top four of the Hostplus SANFLW League ladder with a hard-fought nine-point win over Norwood at Coopers Stadium.

In a low-scoring encounter dominated by defence, the Bloods grabbed their fourth win to leapfrog the Redlegs, who dropped to fifth on the back of a second successive loss.

The opening quarter set the tone for the tight clash with both teams struggling in attack. The Redlegs dominated territory, but could only put a behind on the board.

Eight minutes into the final quarter, when Zoe Venning sent a scare through the Bloods’ camp when she limped off, there had been just four goals and two points separated the teams.

Mykaela Walker kicked a goal to give the Redlegs the lead, but the Bloods, as had been the case all game, kept fighting.

Hannah Button had a huge influence for the Bloods, finishing with 16 tackles and seven clearances. So it was appropriate she kicked the goal to put the visitors back in front.

Kendell Saffin then goaled to seal the deal for the Bloods.

Jade Halfpenny was the Redlegs’ highest possession winner in her 50th game, while teammate Shai Hiscock, also achieving the half century, had 13 tackles.

Sturt snapped a two-game losing streak when it overcame winless North Adelaide by just three points at Thebarton Oval.

The crucial win, their third for the season, enabled the Double Blues to remain in contact with the top four on the ladder.

Defence was the main course on the menu with just four goals kicked for the evening.

Lively Monique Bessen kicked the only goal of the first quarter when she soccered the ball through four minutes into the contest.

The Double Blues spent much of the term camped in attack, but the Roosters defence, led by Kristi Harvey, held firm.

Despite failing to score in the first quarter and registering two behinds in the second, the Roosters closed the gap to one point 11 minutes into the final term when Tayla Gordon kicked the only major for the quarter.

South Adelaide’s supremacy over Central District at Flinders University Stadium has stretched into the 2024 season with the Panthers claiming  a 30-point victory.

The Panthers, yet to lose to the Bulldogs at the Noarlunga ground, secured a fifth successive win and this was another significant statement.

The Bulldogs had risen to third on the ladder, but struggled to break down the Panthers, who are only two points below top-placed Glenelg.

Melissa Anderson kicked the only goal of the first quarter, before the Panthers added three goals in the second term to take control. The Bulldogs’ only score for the first half was a behind 18 minutes into the second quarter.

When Emily Brockhurst kicked the second of her three goals just 25 seconds into the third quarter, the Panthers’ lead had blown out to 30 points.

Caitlin Couch was highly productive for the Panthers, while Jordann Hickey, who had stints on the ball, had a heavy influence.

Is there any stopping Glenelg’s gun midfielder Jessica Bates in the Hostplus SANFLW?

Coming off a record performance against Norwood the previous week, the league’s best and fairest favourite was at again against Woodville-West Torrens at Stratarama Stadium to spark the Tigers to their sixth win of the season.

Bates amassed 33 possessions and 12 tackles, and gained tremendous support from Jo Miller to enable the Tigers to hold out the plucky Eagles in a testing battle.

The opening quarter was a highly contested affair with the Tigers kicking the only goal when Shay’Lee Dayman grabbed the ball out of the ruck and snapped truly.

The issue for the Eagles was a breakdown in their movement across half forward. Despite seriously challenging the ladder-leading Tigers with their enthusiasm and terrific work ethic, the Eagles failed to score in the first and third terms.

Tackling machine Poppy Waterford was again prominent for the Eagles, while Leah Cutting dominated the ruck work.

The game was in the balance until seven minutes into the final quarter when Eloise Mackereth nailed a goal to put the Tigers 19 points clear.