Semi Final SANFL U16 Match Wraps

By TOM WYMAN

South Adelaide kept its SANFL U16 season alive with a 31-point win over North Adelaide in the First Semi Final at Prospect Oval.

Both sides booted two goals in a tight first quarter, Tyler Harris and Zemes Pilot hitting the scoreboard for South and Archie Simpson and Archie Bennett for the Roosters.

Harris and Hewston Fitzgerald extended South’s lead early in the second term, but it was Archie Simpson who provided a much-needed spark for the Roosters, slotting three goals to cut the margin to six points at the main break.

When Simpson slotted another at the nine-minute mark of the third quarter, he had five of North’s six goals, but South kept finding scoring options to keep the Roosters at arm’s length.

The visiting Panthers took a slim 10-point lead into the final term but Jayden Jameson slammed through two goals in four minutes to break red-and-white hearts.

Pilot kicked truly to take his tally to four for the match and Hudson Croser put the finishing touches on an impressive victory.

North won the clearance battle 31-28 but South dominated possession, taking 33 more marks than the Roosters and winning the inside-50 count 42-35.

Panthers utility Pilot (26 disposals, eight inside-50s, four goals) continued his outstanding season and kicked a goal in each quarter, while midfielder Hudson Boal (22 disposals, eight tackles, six clearances) led from the front.

Simpson (12 disposals, five goals) did all he could for North in attack and on-ballers Harry Tamblyn (27 disposals, six inside-50s) and Blake Amos (18 disposals, seven tackles) fought hard throughout.

Central District booked a place in the SANFL U16 Grand Final after it defeated an inaccurate West Adelaide by 10 points in the Second Semi Final at X Convenience Oval.

Tate Howarth and Brayden Whimpress nailed the first two goals of the game for Central within five minutes, then a late Toni Marrone major extended the Bulldogs’ lead to 15 points at quarter-time.

It took until the 13-minute mark of the second term for West to kick a major when Andrew Comakis broke a run of eight-straight Bloods behinds.

Inaccuracy in front of goal continued to plague the visitors, who trailed by 12 points at half-time despite registering three more scoring shots.

It was game on when Harrison Taintey goaled early in the third term cut the margin to just five points, but the Bulldogs responded through Nicholls in what proved to be the final major of the game.

Neither side were able to goal in a final term stalemate and Central held on despite losing the inside-50s 35-42 and clearances 18-26.

Toni Marrone was terrific for the Bulldogs, gathering 22 disposals, seven tackles and a goal and defender Zachary Quintel-Moyle managed 13 rebounds from 26 disposals.

Dependable West Adelaide midfielder Laurence Andriani collected 32 disposals, eight clearances and 12 inside-50s – all game-highs.