Norwood U18s secure breakthrough victory

Norwood’s U18s side snapped a five-game losing streak and kept its finals dreams alive with a solid 42-point win over North Adelaide at The Parade on Sunday. 

Jay Polkinghorne was once again a handful for North’s defenders kicking five goals from his 15 disposals.

He has now kicked 22 goals (fourth on the overall U18 League tally) from his nine SANFL U18 games, while also representing Prince Alfred College in the Adelaide College Football system.

U16 player Will Prescott kicked three goals in his second U18 outing for the season, while Jacob Newton kicked two goals from his 19 disposals and Will Rowlands 2.4 from his 17 touches.

Key Defender Noah Daw was named best on ground with 19 disposals and eight marks.

In an important match for the seventh-placed Norwood (against the sixth-placed North Adelaide) the Redlegs started well with four goals in the first term to hold a seven-point lead at the first break.

The Redlegs kicked four unanswered goals in the second term to lead by 33 points at half time, and another three in the third quarter to put the game to bed (38 points ahead at the final break).

The Roosters threatened early in the fourth with the first two goals of the quarter but Norwood steadied to run out 42-point winners.

Norwood is now even with North with a 7-8 record, two wins behind the 9-6 Sturt (fourth-placed) with three Rounds to play.

The Redlegs have a break this weekend, before facing Central District on Wednesday, August 2.

Norwood’s season ends with games against the Bulldogs (second-placed), South Adelaide (third) and West Adelaide (eighth).

Norwood 4.0, 8.5, 11.7, 14.13 – 97

North Adelaide 2.5, 2.8, 4.11, 7.13 – 55

Goals: Polkinghorne 5, Prescott 3, Newton 2, Rowlands 2, Duncan, Maddigan

Best: Daw, Newton, Polkinghorne, Best, Michalanney

It was an agonising four-point loss for Norwood’s U16s against North Adelaide at The Parade on Sunday.

The Redlegs didn’t start well – held goalless until the seven-minute mark of the second term – but worked their way into the match and came home with a flurry to nearly pinch the win.

Norwood trailed by 19 points at quarter time, but goals through Majoor Ackland and Harry Lake helped the Redlegs to within six points at the 15-minute mark of the second term.

The Redlegs were pushing to level the scores but the Roosters got a late goal before half time through Lachlan Faulkhead to steady for the visiting team.

The third term went goal for goal, but North was able to get the margin out to 24 points early in the final quarter.

Norwood responded with the final three goals of the game through Lake, Jeff Rozenbilds and Jack Hayter to make it a four-point margin.

Hayter had 29 disposals, 12 tackles, six clearances and a goal, while Rozenbilds had 28 disposals and a goal, and Jim Kelly 27 disposals, 13 marks and eight tackles in a best on ground performance.

Norwood 0.1, 2.4, 4.5, 7.9 – 51

North Adelaide 3.2, 4.7, 6.12, 7.13 – 55

Best: Kelly, Speyer, Rozenbilds, Kretschmer, Minervini

Goals: Lake 2, Stevenson 2, Ackland, Hayter, Rozenbilds