SANFLW Match Report

Two straight wins for Norwood SANFLW to get season back on track

1 year ago – March 25, 2023

Norwood outlasted Sturt in a tough contest at Coopers Stadium on Saturday to make it two straight wins and get its season back on track.

The Redlegs won by nine-points in the Round 5 clash, 6.5-41 to 4.8-32.

Sturt looked the better side for much of the contest, keeping Norwood goalless for a two-quarter patch, but the Redlegs came home strong to claim a vital victory.

Norwood’s Sachi Syme was the best player on the ground, winning the Ellen Maple Memorial Medal with 21 disposals, seven tackles and three clearances.

Norwood was without Port Adelaide listed players Hannah Dunn and Ebony O’Dea, who played against Woodville-West Torrens last week, but Tahlita Buethke, Morgan Johnston, Tesharna Maher and Lana Schewerdt stood up, each gathering 16 touches for Norwood.

Georgie Jaques dominated the ruck battle with 28 hit-outs, 11 disposals, five marks and a goal.

Maher got her side off to a flying start with two early clearances, helping Jade Halfpenny to the opening goal of the contest.

Syme had four disposals in the opening five minutes, as Norwood dominated possession and field position.

Halfpenny – who has booted five goals this season – booted her second of the contest at the six-minute mark to get the Redlegs off to the perfect start.

Sturt started to gain momentum by the middles stages if the first term, but Norwood’s defence held strong to restrict the Double Blues to three behinds, despite it being trapped in Sturt’s attacking zone.

Norwood was lucky Sturt couldn’t hit leads inside 50m, capitalise on free kicks or make the most of the lop-sided inside 50m count (11-6 at quarter time).

The Double Blues eventually got the goal they were searching for in the final minute of the term through Alysha Healy.

The Redlegs went into quarter time with a four-point lead, with Buethke, Johnston and Syme leading the way with six disposals each.

The Double Blues continued how they left off in the second term, dominating field position, but again struggled to finish off their good work with a mark inside 50m or goal.

Sturt finally found a mark and set shot through Millie McCarthy and goaled to take a three-point lead at the seven-minute mark (2.1-13 to 2.4-16).

The game was evenly poised mid-way through the second term, but it was Sturt that managed to get the buffering goal through an Amy Brooks-Birve set shot – taking the lead out to seven points.

The Double Blues kicked back to back goals when Healy capitalised on a Norwood turnover in defence, claiming a 2.3-15 to 4.4-28 lead at half time.

Syme was leading the way for Norwood with 14 disposals, seven tackles and two clearances in the first half.

Sturt was again dominant after half time but again couldn’t put it on the scoreboard.

The Redlegs desperately needed a goal and it came through Shai Hiscock at the nine-minute mark of the third term, their first since the six-minute mark of the first quarter – taking it back to a nine-point game.

Norwood’s best passage of play for the day brought its fourth goal – Lauren Smith turned the ball over at half back, who linked up with Johnston, Syme and Maher, ending with the Najwa Allen goal.

Norwood was on a roll and it had the lead back when Buethke turned the ball over in the Redlegs forward line, setting up Allen’s second goal.

Following a three-goal term Norwood led by three points at three-quarter time, 5.3-33 to 4.6-30.

It was a frantic start to the last quarter with smothers, desperate tackles and spoiles depicting what the win meant to both sides.

Norwood looked more poised and got the first goal of the final term through Jaques, topping off a brilliant day for herself and her side

The Redlegs take on West Adelaide next Saturday at Hisense Stadium.

SANFLW

Norwood 2.1, 2.3, 5.3, 6.5 – 41

Sturt 1.3, 4.4, 4.6, 4.8 – 32

Goals: Allen 2, Halfpenny 2, Hiscock, Jaques

Best: Syme, Jawues, Buethke, Johnston, Maher, Nenke

Development League game

Norwood 3.0, 5.1, 6.2, 10.4 – 64