Norwood falls short against North Adelaide at Prospect

Norwood mounted a strong challenge in the last quarter, but were unable to overcome North Adelaide, losing by eight-points at Prospect Oval.

A late surge saw the Redlegs close the margin to just one-point in the final quarter, but the Roosters steadied to hold on to a 5.10-40 to 6.12-48 win.

Midfield ball-magnet Nik Rokahr (33 disposals), co-captains Matthew Nunn (29 disposals, eight clearances, one goal) and Jacob Kennerley (25 disposals, seven tackles) were strong performers for the Redlegs, along with Harry Boyd (34 hit outs).

It was another frustrating loss for Norwood coach Jade Rawlings, with the Redlegs finding themselves in winning situations in recent games, without being able to consolidate.

“It’s frustrating not getting results, we’ve been in winning positions the last three weeks and haven’t been able to find a way to win,” said Rawlings.

With a 3-11 record for the season, Rawlings is firmly focused on his team’s next four games, rather than the disappointment of missing the finals following last year’s premiership.

“It was always going to be hard when you have the start we had,” he said.

“It’s not about the last four games (of the season), it’s about the next four games.”

Despite Saturday’s loss, Rawlings is proud of his group and how they continue to fight out games each week.

“I admire how the team is competing, and how we find ways to keep hanging in.

“The leadership amongst the group today was very satisfying.

“I’m very proud of our group and how they are going about their footy.”

With clouds hovering at Prospect Oval, early goals loomed as crucial with the possibility of rain looking ominous.

Despite Norwood generating four of the first five inside 50s, it was North Adelaide who landed the first blow of the afternoon, with Nigel Lockyer running into an open goal and converting for the Roosters.

Both sides found it difficult to kick goals over the following 15-minute period, exchanging behinds despite either team having opportunities inside forward 50.

A turnover in the middle of the ground enabled North to surge forward, with Mitchell Harvey taking a strong mark just inside forward 50, and converting from a slight angle, pushing the Roosters out to a 12-point lead.

Rain settled in as Norwood’s Nik Rokahr sent a snap around the body from 40m out, but goals continued to evade the Redlegs, as they registered their third behind of the first quarter.

At the quarter-time siren the Roosters carried an 11-point lead, 0.3-3 to 2.2-14

Rokahr had a huge first quarter, collecting 13 disposals, whilst Jacob Kennerley (10 disposals, four tackles) and Matthew Nunn (nine disposals, five clearances) also battled hard for the Redlegs.

The Redlegs found themselves with the first two genuine scoring chances of the second term through Connor McLean and Xavier Tranfa, but both were unable to capitalise on tough set shot opportunities.

A kick along the ground from Luke Bogle handed Goy Lok an opportunity running inside 50, however North’s pressure ensured a rushed kick at goal would only dribble through for a behind.

A free kick to Norwood 25m out from goal ensured Tranfa kicked the Redlegs’ first goal of the day, before Izaak Twelftree smartly intercepted a handball in the forward pocket to kick back-to-back Norwood goals inside two minutes, with the Redlegs snatching a two-point lead.

Repeat inside 50s to the Roosters saw the Redlegs defense hold up strong before Roosters captain Alex Spina finally converted his side’s third major of the match with a classy finish to hand them a three-point lead.

A goal to North Adelaide’s Keenan Ramsey late in the second quarter extended the Rooster’s margin to nine-points, with the Redlegs trailing the Roosters 2.7-19 to 4.4-28 at the main break.

Rokahr was having no issues finding the football for the Redlegs, with 24 disposals in just a half of football.

The Roosters began the third quarter with two early scoring opportunities but failed to capitalise, as the Redlegs surged forward with Liam Robinson dribbling through a goal in the goal square, reducing the margin to five-points.

It wasn’t until the 15th minute mark of the quarter that either side registered a score, with a long ball inside 50 from Kennerley resulting in a holding the ball free kick to Baynen Lowe, who’s shot drifted across the face of goal for a behind.

Another tough opportunity saw Tranfa hit the post with a snap around the body from 30m out, as the Redlegs continued to struggle to kick goals from more scoring shots 12-10.

The Roosters finished the third term strongly, having the last three scoring shots, including a second goal to Ramsey, as they went on to hold an 11-point lead at the final change.

North Adelaide owned the beginning of the last quarter, registering the first nine inside 50s but struggling to convert, kicking just the three behinds to extend the margin to 14-points.

With the Roosters unable to close the door on the Redlegs, a captain’s goal to Nunn injected Norwood with some life 17-minutes into the final term, reducing North Adelaide’s margin to just eight-points.

A brilliant set shot from Lok on 50m brought the Redlegs within two-points just two minutes later, as momentum swung Norwood’s way.

Lowe had a running shot to give the Redlegs the lead, but it drifted right, trimming the margin down to one-point.

Lockyer gave the Roosters some much needed breathing space with his second goal in the 23rd minute to extend the margin to seven-points.

Despite being comprehensively beaten 14-7 in inside 50s in the final term, the Redlegs outscored the Roosters in the final term by three points, but it wasn’t enough, the Roosters running out victorious by eight-points, 5.10-40 to 6.12-48.

Norwood edged North Adelaide in disposals 329-319 and clearances 37-35, whilst the Roosters won the inside 50 count 48-41.

Norwood hosts Central District at Coopers Stadium next Sunday.

Norwood: 0.3, 2.7, 3.9, 5.10 – 40

North Adelaide: 2.2, 4.4, 5.8, 6.12 – 48

Goals: Tranfa, Lok, Robinson, Nunn, Twelftree

Best: Rokahr, Lowe, Boyd, Nunn, Donnelly

Norwood’s Reserves went down by two points to North Adelaide at Prospect Oval on Saturday.

It was a tough loss to take for the Redlegs who are knocking on the door of the top five, now sitting sixth with a 5-9 record (one win away from the fifth placed Woodville-West Torrens).

On Saturday, Norwood had the better of the first term and led by a match-high 19 points in the early stages of the second quarter.

The Rootsers kicked five of the next six goals before half time to lead by eight points at the major break, 6.7-43 to 5.5-35.

Norwood wrestled back the lead in the third term with goals to Lachie Pascoe, Jackson Callow and Oliver Sanders.

North kicked the only goals of the final term, and Norwood was inaccurate in front of goal with 0.6 to close out the game.

Pascoe kicked three goals, while Callow kicked two majors from his 14 disposals on return from an ankle injury that has kept him out most of the season.

Sanders also returned from a hand injury through the Reserves on Saturday, with 14 disposals.

Young ruckman Alex van Wyk had a huge influence with 34 hitouts, 20 disposals, six clearances and eight marks, and was named best on ground.

Jake Cresswell also had 20 disposals and Tom Graham 16.

Norwood has lost its last three Reserves matches and have another tough task this Sunday against the second placed Central District at Coopers Stadium.

Norwood 3.3, 5.5, 9.7, 9.13 – 67

North Adelaide 1.3, 6.7, 8.8, 10.9 – 69

Best: van Wyk, Callow, Graham, Pascoe, Cresswell

Goals: Pascoe 3, Callow 2, Cresswell, F. Heard, Jarvis, Sanders