Sturt soar over Norwood on Easter Thursday

Norwood was outclassed by arch rivals Sturt at Coopers Stadium on Easter Thursday, with the Double Blues running out 41-point winners.

Sturt was the better side for much of the night, not allowing Norwood any space to transition the ball in the 12.9-81 to 6.4-40 win.

Norwood struggled to move the ball in the first half, playing a slow brand of football, while Sturt did well to hem the Redlegs into their defensive half and pressure their every move.

The Redlegs were indecisive by foot moving inside 50m, and were punished by a slick Sturt midfield who were able to make the most of turnovers.

After trailing by just four points at quarter time, the Double Blues put their foot down to lead by 33 points at half time, 6.6-42 to 1.3-9 following a five-goal-to-none quarter.

Norwood would have been in a deeper hole if it weren’t for Billy Cootee’s outstanding first half where he gathered 21 disposals. Jack Heard (17 touches, six marks) and Cooper Murley (15 disposals) were also flying the flag for the home side.

Murley played one of his best games for Norwood, damaging from half back and laying some goal-saving tackles to finish with 23 touches.

Norwood was a different side on the other side of the half time break, kicking three goals in five minutes to get itself well and truly back in the contest.

At this point Sturt were ruing a first quarter which was dominated for a 1.5 return.

Norwood’s third quarter goals came off the boot of Cootee from a set shot, a long captain’s goal from Jacob Kennerley and then a quality finish from the returning Izaak Twelftree.

Twelftree’s was the goal of the day, and got the margin back to 15 points in the blink of an eye, and suddenly The Parade was rocking.

The Redlegs were feeding off a strong Norwood crowd, and kept pushing the comeback.

Suddenly it was the Double Blues on the back foot and needing the next major, leading 6.6-42 to 4.3-27 despite all their dominance.

Will Snelling lifted his output and Sturt certainly answered the question as Jared Dakin kicked a steadying goal before three quarter time to make it a 23-point game.

Norwood won the third term, three goals to one and the game was alive.

But, not for long, as the Double Blues kicked two quick goals through Dakin and Josh Hone, and the 23-point margin swelled to 35 within just three minutes.

The game opened up, and Norwood found the next goal through Tristan Binder, but again Sturt was too good with goals through James Mathews and Amos Doyle to push the margin past 40 points.

Jackson Callow kicked a second goal late, but Norwood ended up falling to a third straight defeat to start the season.

Norwood won disposals 349-327 and marks 72-59 which highlighted its intention to hold onto the ball.

Sturt dominated clearances 48-29 and inside 50m entries 59-32.

Magarey Medal winner Snelling finished with 40 disposals, 20 tackles and eight clearances for Sturt and Mitch Crowden 32 disposals.

For Norwood Cootee had 31 disposals and a goal, Nik Rokahr 28 disposals,  J. Heard 26 disposals, Pierce Seymour 26 and Murley 23.

The Redlegs next take on Glenelg at the Bay in an Anzac Day clash.

Norwood1.1, 1.3, 4.3, 6.4 – 40

Sturt 1.5, 6.6, 7.8, 12.9 – 81

Goals: Callow 2, Binder, Cootee, Kennerley, Twelftree