Norwood record great Friday night win over South

Norwood hosted the second placed South Adelaide on a perfect Friday night at Coopers Stadium, and put in a strong performance to claim a dominant 25-point win.

The Redlegs kept last year’s Grand Finalists South Adelaide scoreless in the first half, and goalless all night, going on to record a 4.4-28 to 0.3-3 win.

Norwood has now defeated the Panthers twice this season and move to a 4-4 win-loss record.

The home side started well, pressuring every South Adelaide possession and finding the first two inside 50m entries – the second of which ended in a goal to Amelia Rusden from the goal square.

Norwood scored from its first three forward 50m entries, and Kiana Lee snapped the Redlegs second goal at the eight-minute mark to help the home side to a 2.1-13 to 0.0-0 lead.

The Redlegs were dominating early and had a fourth consecutive scoring shot to kick off the evening when Lee found a leading Shai Hiscock, who missed the set shot.

Norwood was dominating the disposal tally early, but South started to find some ball in hand and slowed the game down, making sure that no more scores were conceded in the first term.

The Redlegs led by 14 points at quarter time, and led disposals 75-60, while South led tackles 20-14.

Coby Morgan had nine disposals in the first quarter, while Emily Bartsch and Jade Halfpenny had six apiece.

Norwood again dominated territory early in the second term with 6-1 inside 50m entries in the first 12 minutes, but it was a scrappy affair as South defended well.

The Redlegs finally broke through with their third goal, when Tahlita Buethke danced around multiple Panthers and belted the ball inside 50m, eventually ending in a Mykaela Walker goal.

It was a dominant term from Norwood with an 8-1 inside 50m entry count, for the return of the one Walker goal, but the Redlegs led 3.2-20 to 0.0-0 at half time.

Norwood led inside 50m 14-6 at half time, but the rest of the key stats were close, including disposal 120-114, marks 20-19 and clearances 12-16. South led tackles 35-49 and hitouts 21-12.

Morgan had 13 to half time, and Barstch 10. Nicole Campbell had 12 disposals for South.

Like the first two quarters Norwood owned the forward half of the ground, and this time it didn’t take too long to get on the board. Lee booted her second goal at the six-minute mark to make it an imposing match-high 27-point game.

Norwood survived a couple of threatening South forays, which resulted in just two rushed behinds before three quarter time.

The Redlegs went into the last break with a 26-point lead, 4.4-28 to 0.2-2.

Both the Redlegs and Panthers started the fourth term with the spark, belief and enthusiasm to win the game for their sides. South throwing one last roll of the dice.

Norwood needed one more goal to ice the match, and had multiple cracks at the goal face for no joy, but maintained a 26-point lead for the first half of the term and going on to win by 25.

Lee finished with two goals, while Rusden and Walker had one each.

Morgan had 18 disposals, while Jade Halfpenny had 17 disposals, four tackles and four clearances. Hiscock had 11 tackles.

Norwood have a week off before taking on North Adelaide at Coopers Stadium in Round 9, on Saturday, May 11.

Norwood 2.2, 3.2, 4.4, 4.4 – 28

South Adelaide 0.0, 0.0, 0.2, 0.3 – 3

Goals: Lee 2, Walker, Rusden

Best: Morgan, Belbin, Hazelhurst, Hiscock, Walker