SANFLW: West Adelaide too strong for Norwood in Round 7

Norwood went down to West Adelaide by nine points in Round 7 of the SANFLW competition at Coopers Stadium on Saturday night, as Shai Hiscock and Jade Halfpenny celebrated their 50th matches.

The Redlegs trailed for a large portion of the match, but hit the front with two quick goals to begin the final term, before the Bloods hit back with two of their own goals to secure a 4.5-29 to 3.2-20 victory.

Norwood’s Amelia Rusden kicked the first goal of the game, five minutes into the second quarter, but Bec Hansen found West’s fist goal soon after.

Lucy Boyd kicked West Adelaide’s second goal just before half time to help her side to a seven-point lead at the main break.

The third quarter was a close battle, with just one behind coming off the boot of West Adelaide’s Nicole Hooper.

Rusden’s second goal came 44 seconds into the fourth term to reduce the margin back to two points, before Mykaela Walker put Norwood in front at the half-way point of the final quarter.

The Redlegs didn’t last long in the lead with Hannah Button kicking a goal two minutes later to put the visitors back in front.

Kendell Saffin kicked the sealing goal at the 17-minute mark, to help her side to the nine-point win.

Reigning club best and fairest Tahlita Buethke again topped the disposal count for Norwood with 20 touches, which was matched by milestone player Jade Halfpenny with 20 disposals, six clearances and 21 hitouts.

Candice Belbin had 18 disposals, 11 tackles and 21 four clearances.

Norwood’s goal kickers were Rusden with two and Walker with one – Walker’s first in Norwood colours.

The two 50-gamers Shai Hiscock and Halfpenny were named first and second best respectively, with Hiscock gathering 11 disposals and laying 13 tackles in a trademark tough performance.

It was a costly loss for Norwood, which now slips out of the top four with a 3-4 win-loss record, while the win helped West Adelaide to 4-3 and into fourth place.

The Redlegs take on the second place South Adelaide on Friday night at Coopers Stadium in Round 8.

Norwood 0.1, 1.1, 1.1, 3.2 – 20

West Adelaide 0.0, 2.2, 2.3, 4.5 – 29

Goals: Rusden 2, Walker

Best: Hiscock, Halfpenny, Belbin, Rusden, Birchall

The curtains closed on Norwood’s SANFLW Development League season on Saturday afternoon, with a 29-point win over West Adelaide at Coopers Stadium.

The Redlegs finish the seven-game season in third place with a 5-2 win-loss record, with South Adelaide and Glenelg qualifying for this Saturday’s Grand Final. The Panthers and Tigers both finished the season 6-1.

Last Saturday, Norwood got out of the blocks well with the first goal of the game, leading by six points at quarter time.

Norwood kicked a further two unanswered goals in the second term to open up a 19-point lead at the main break.

It was one goal apiece in the all-important third quarter, to set up a convincing 21-point three quarter time lead.

Norwood kicked away in the final quarter with 1.3 to 0.1 to set up the 5.9-39 to 1.4-10 win.

Grace Mulvahil was named best on ground for Norwood, while goal kickers were Grace Whittaker with two and singles to Kyah Jaffer, Courtney Rossi and Kaitey Whittaer.

Norwood 1.1, 3.4, 4.6, 5.9 – 39

West Adelaide 0.1, 0.3, 1.3, 1.4 – 10

Goals: G. Whittaker 2, Jaffer, Rossi, K. Whittaker

Best: Mulvahil, Zerella, Cameron, Hand, Arkun