Norwood’s first win of the season down South

Norwood came storming home in the last quarter to secure its first win of the 2024 SANFLW season, defeating South Adelaide by 20 points in Noarlunga in sweltering conditions.

With temperatures reaching 40 degrees across Adelaide on Saturday, the SANFLW match was brought forward to 9am and the Development League game postponed.

The Redlegs were able to withstand an early onslaught from the Panthers – who had six scoring shots to one in the first term – to steady and eventually overpower South in a 6.9-45 to 3.7-25 victory.

South had all the play in the first quarter, but managed 1.5 from its six scoring shots to lead by 10 points at the first break. Norwood could consider itself lucky to still be in the game at this point.

The Redlegs worked their way into the match and eventually had their first goal on the board through Sachi Syme at the 10-minute mark of the second quarter, an outstanding finish on the run from 50m.

Elle Lineage scored Norwood’s second goal through a set shot at the 18-minute mark to put the visitors in front, but South wrestled back the lead through Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap just before the half time siren.

The half time score read 2.6-18 to 2.4-16 in favour of the hosts.

South’s Melissa Anderson kicked the first goal of the second half to put her side up by nine points, but from there Norwood played some outstanding football.

The Redlegs kept last year’s grand finalists scoreless for the remainder of the contest, while piling on four goals of their own to turn a nine-point deficit into a 20-point win.

Second half goals came through Shai Hiscock, Amelia Rusden, Adrienne Davies and the sealer from Lineage in the dying minutes of the contest.

Syme finished with 20 disposals and a goal, while last season’s leading goal kicker Najwa Allen and best on ground Hiscock each had 19 disposals.

Norwood had big wins in the hitout (47-19) and inside 50m (34-17) numbers, with young ruck Kate Alexander winning 25 hitouts in just her second SANFLW match.

The Redlegs would be relieved to have a win on the board, having faced last year’s grand finalists Central District and South Adelaide in the opening two matches of the season.

Norwood heads to Thebarton Oval next Sunday (March 17 11:30am) to take on Woodville-West Torrens in Round 3.

SANFLW Round 2 Result:

Norwood 0.1, 2.4, 3.4, 6.9 – 45

South Adelaide 1.5, 2.6, 3.7, 3.7 – 25

Goals: Lineage 2, Syme, Davies, Rusden, Hiscock

Best: Hiscock, Bartsch, Syme, Nenke, Alexander