Redlegs U16s on the board after come from behind win

Norwood’s U16s secured their first win under new coach Peter Turner in Port Pirie on Saturday, kicking the final three goals of the game to steal a seven-point win over North Adelaide.

In a see-sawing game of big momentum swings, Norwood had the momentum at the right time to claim an impressive 14.8-92 to 13.7-85 victory.

It was a win to remember for the Redlegs (who struggled to two wins last season) with three goals in the final three minutes through Sachin Tyrrell, Memphis Costanzo and Kai Ivins securing victory.

North Adelaide kicked the first two goals of the game within four minutes, and there were signs of last season’s Round 1 trip to Port Pirie where the Roosters kicked eight unanswered goals in the first term.

But that wasn’t to be as the Redlegs responded with three goals to Tyrrell, Flynn Gray and Joseph Nak gave Norwood the lead after 12 minutes.

After a high-quality first quarter, 10 goals were scored and it was the Redlegs who held a two-point lead at quarter time, 5.2-32 to 5.0-30.

North Adelaide took control towards the back end of the first term, kicking seven of the next nine goals to take a match-high 21-point lead into half time.

The game could have gone one of two ways – either Norwood roll over or respond after half time, and luckily for the Redlegs it was the latter.

Norwood kicked three goals in four minutes to start the second half to bring it back to a one-kick game in the blink of an eye, and at three quarter time North led by two points, 11.6-72 to 11.4-70.

The Roosters again laid down the challenge with back to back goals to start the final term, and trailing by 15 points the Redlegs needed to respond again.

They did so with a forward pressure goal to Tyrrell, a set shot from Costanzo to put Norwood in front and then the sealer from Ivins off two steps with 30 seconds on the clock to ensure the seven-point win.

Costanzo and Oliver Easton kicked three goals apiece, while Ivins, Nak and Tyrrell each finished with two.

Ivins was outstanding with 32 disposals, four clearances 10 inside 50m entries, seven marks and 2.3 on the scoreboard while Charlie Best, George Serocki and Tyrrell had 22 disposals each.

The Redlegs head to Woodville on Sunday to take on the Eagles.

Norwood 5.2, 7.2, 11.4, 14.8 – 92

North Adelaide 5.0, 10.5, 11.6, 13.7 – 85

Goals: Costanzo 3, Easton 3, Ivins 2, Nak 2, Tyrrell 2, Gray, Lake

Best: Ivins, Carr, Easton, Allen, Serocki

Norwood’s U18s also headed up to North Adelaide’s regional zone of Port Pirie on Saturday, but were disappointed to return with a 21-point loss to the Roosters.

After two wins from their first two matches the Redlegs travelled to Port Pirie full of confidence, but it was North that took full control after half time to claim a 11.16-82 to 9.7-61.

Recovering from a slow start the Redlegs were in the contest at half time, trailing 4.9-33 to 4.3-27, but from there the Roosters kicked five unanswered goals in the third term to turn a seven-point lead into 38 points.

Norwood kicked a steadier through James Jervis late in the third term, but it turned out to be a damaging six-goal-to-one quarter and a 39-point three quarter time deficit.

The Redlegs responded with four last quarter goals to bring the margin back to 20 points, but they left themselves too much to do and went down for the first time in 2025.

“Unfortunately from the get-go we just could not get the game on our terms in any capacity, credit to North Adelaide, they were far cleaner and polished in all key areas of the game,” Norwood U18 coach Alex Newell said.

“We couldn’t take any marks, therefore couldn’t control the pace of the game and we just didn’t bring the type of contest method we know we can, ultimately that played into North’s hands.

“Harvey Pearce was a shining light in the front half with his ground level impact and certainly provided a spark for us.

“We came home with a wet sail in the last quarter and gave ourselves half a chance but it was too little too late. We look to respond against a very good Eagles side next week.”

The U18s side was also impacted by the Senior Men’s injury list, with Luke Scott, Kristian Gould and Jeff Rozenbilds playing Reserves on Saturday.

“We had a handful of forced changes through the week which we knew would break some continuity but it was a great opportunity for a handful of players to experience U18 footy for the first time,” Newell said.

Norwood 2.1, 4.3, 5.5, 9.7 – 61

North Adelaide 4.5, 4.9, 10.14, 11.16 – 82

Best: Pearce, Speyer, Thompson, Kretschmer, Ainsworth

Goals: Prescott 2, Stevenson 2, Jervis, Lake, Pearce, Speyer, Thompson