Sturt stop Redlegs run

Norwood’s four-game unbeaten run came to a screeching halt on Saturday afternoon, as Sturt stopped the Redlegs in their tracks in an impressive 14-point win at Richmond Oval.

Norwood’s four wins against South Adelaide, Woodville-West Torrens, Glenelg and Central District were bookended by losses to the Double Blues in Rounds 7 and 12, who outclassed the Redlegs on both occasions.

On Saturday, Sturt looked the better side from the first quarter, and despite the Redlegs trailing by just five points at the final break, the Double Blues were able to kick away and round out the 4.8-32 to 2.6-18 win.

Sturt controlled the clearances +7 and doubled the inside 50m entries 33-16, but the Redlegs kept themselves in the battle until the final term where the Double Blues booted 2.3 to 1.0.

The game started hot, and both sides had periods of dominance during the first term, but at quarter time there weren’t any goals to show for it.

Sturt led 0.2-2 to 0.1-1 at the first break, with the Double Blues going inside 50m eight times to the Redlegs five and started to get on top late in the quarter.

Isobel Kuiper had seven disposals for Sturt in the first term, while Lani Cocks had six touches for Norwood.

The Double Blues broke the deadlock early in the second term with a goal through Sienna Fox, a quarter completely dominated by Sturt.

Norwood couldn’t get the ball out of its defensive zone, and the Double Blues registered four inside 50m entries to none in the first 10 minutes of the quarter.

The Redlegs had done well to restrict the dangerous Sturt to 1.1, until Millie McCarthy made it a second goal and a 13-point lead at half time, 2.4-16 to 0.3-3.

Norwood had just two inside 50m entries for the term, for two behinds, and Sturt looked switched on in every facet of the match.

Kuiper, Cocks and Ashley Baker all had 11 touches for the half, while the Redlegs defenders were busy dealing with 17-7 first half inside 50m entries.

Sturt continued on its way, dominating the territory battle and making life hard for Norwood. However, the all important knock out blow didn’t come, as Sturt couldn’t find the goal as reward for its 23-9 inside 50m count.

It took until the 15-minute mark of the third quarter, before Norwood managed its first goal of the contest, through Baker, to remarkably reduce the margin to just five points, 1.6-12 to 2.5-17 at the final break.

After being held to just six disposals in the first half, captain Jade Halfpenny got busy in the third quarter with five disposals, to give the Redlegs a hope in the final term.

McCarthy’s second goal was in important one for the Double Blues who went 11 points in front, but the Redlegs had one final swing as Amelia Rusden converted a running goal mid-way through the fourth term.

Madeline Nuss nailed the decisive goal for the Double Blues, who kept their top-two chances in tact with the 14-point victory, given their incredible 6-3-3 win-loss record which includes three draws.

The Eagles returned to the top of the ladder, with the Redlegs second, Sturt third and the Roosters fourth. Back to back reigning premiers, the Panthers, have amazingly fallen out of the top four following four losses from their past five games.

Norwood will be desperate to rebound against West Adelaide at Richmond Oval on Saturday.

Norwood 0.1, 0.3, 1.6, 2.6 – 18

Sturt 0.2, 2.4, 2.5, 4.8 – 32

Goals: Baker, Rusden

Best: Cameron, Jaques, Bartsch, Schwerdt, Klaebe