U16 Torrens University Cup Semi-Final Wrap

By STEVE BARRETT

Jack Delean’s seven-goal haul launched minor premier South Adelaide to a 32-point semi-final victory over North Adelaide and into next Sunday’s Under-16 Torrens University Cup grand final.

The competition’s top scorer, blonde bomber Delean slotted six against the Roosters a week ago and again gave North’s defence fits, well supported by fellow forward Phoenix Hargrave (four majors).

The Panthers’ twin targets made the most of the their team’s 54-32 inside-50s ascendancy, benefiting from the centre-square work of Tom Wheaton (24 possessions, 10 clearances), Sid Draper (23, seven) and ruckman Tom Schirmer (one goal, 33 hitouts).

For the Roosters, Jed Dignan (three majors), Jakeem Cox (two) and DJ Smith (two) lurked dangerously in attack, while on-baller Kane McAuliffe (36 disposals) and backman Toby Turner (27 touches, 14 rebound-50s) were industrious.

Dignan’s six-pointer after the quarter-time siren reduced North’s deficit to four points following South’s hot start before the Panthers stamped their authority, moving ahead by 22 points at half-time and extending their advantage to 43 points after Delean jagged his fifth.

With four unanswered goals either side of three-quarter-time, the Roosters sliced the gap to 19 points before being put away, this time for good, by Delean and Hargrave as South cruised to the finale for the first time since 2015.

The 2021 U16 Torrens University Cup grand final will be played from 11am this Sunday at Flinders University Stadium.

Glenelg will pursue an unprecedented fifth successive Under-16 Torrens University Cup when it meets South in the decider after eclipsing Sturt by 37 points in Sunday’s other semi-final at Hisense Stadium.

The Bays were in total command from the outset, kicking six of the first seven goals and strangling the life out of the error-riddled Double Blues defensively.

Ruckman Harry Francis nailed three majors to go with nine marks and 14 hitouts, while fellow Tigers Eli Redman, Liam Delaney and Brock Summerhayes booted two goals each.

Glenelg advanced its lead from 14 points at quarter-time and 32 at half-time to a whopping 51 points late in the third term before easing off the pedal slightly as Sturt conjured three consolation goals in the fourth.

Luca Slade – the son of former Central District great Matthew Slade – (25 possessions, one major) and George Pope (23 disposals) were busy for the Blues, unsuccessfully chasing their first grand final berth since 2015.

Classy left-footer Lucas Camporeale – another son of a gun, Carlton’s 1995 AFL premiership wingman Scott Camporeale – racked up 32 touches for the Tigers, while defenders Bodie Ryan (26 possessions) and Ashton Moir (11 marks) intercepted and rebounded expertly from half-back.

The 2021 U16 Torrens University Cup grand final will be played from 11am this Sunday at Flinders University Stadium.