Match Report – Roosters down Legs in close contest

NORWOOD has fallen just short of defeating league leaders North Adelaide at Prospect Oval on Saturday afternoon.

The Redlegs worked tirelessly all day, however, two last quarter goals were enough to seal victory for North Adelaide by 11-points.

Norwood started the match in control, as Captain Matthew Nunn and Tom Wagner kicked the first two goals of the contest.

Vice-Captain Jacob Kennerley booted Norwood’s third in succession as the Redlegs led by as much as 19-points midway through the first term.

North responded with back-to-back goals at the end of the first term to cut the margin to just seven points at the first break.

The second quarter saw Norwood kick the first within the opening 40 seconds, as Josh Richards smothered a ball and was able to run onto it and kick the first for the Redlegs.

The Legs were good in tight and able to play the game in their front half.

Connor McLean then brought the away faithful into life when he kicked a contender for goal of the day on the boundary line nine minutes into the quarter.

Despite Norwood’s efforts, the Roosters began to get the game on their terms as they registered four unanswered goals to hit the front for the first time on the day.

With all to play for in the third term, young forward Xavier Tranfa handed Norwood the perfect start as he made no mistake from his set shot for 40-metres out.

With the weather conditions tough, both sides found it tough to move the ball freely, and when Jay Rantall kicked a goal late in the third the Redlegs had the belief to run over the Roosters in the final term.

Leading by a point at three-quarter time, the Roosters fashioned two goals to ensure they kept hold of the top spot.

Norwood had nine more clearances than North as Redlegs ruckman Harry Boyd got things moving in the centre square with an astonishing 51 hit outs and five clearances.

Livewire Norwood midfielder Mitch Cotter thrived on the conditions to collect 20 disposals along with defender Mitch Wilkins, while Nik Rokahr had 19 and eight clearances.

Redlegs captain Matt Nunn and unheralded Josh Richards tallied 17 disposals each and a goal as their side missed an opportunity to edge closer to the top five.

The Redlegs now have the bye this weekend, before travelling to Alberton Oval in Round 11.

SCOREBOARD:

NORTH ADELAIDE: 2.2 6.4 7.7 9.9 (63)

NORWOOD: 3.3 5.4 7.8 7.10 (52)

BEST: Boyd, Rokahr, Richards, Stockdale, Kennerley, Morris

GOALS: Tranfa, Nunn, Wagner, McLean, Kennerley, Rantall, Richards