League Match Report

South Adelaide vs North Adelaide
Round 7 - Prospect Oval - 19/05/18

Goals: Rankine 4, Cross, Fields, Fitt, Hunter 2, Brooksby, Szust, Kreuger
Best: Liddle, Davis, Summerton, Rankine, Cross, Rose
Injuries: Kreuger (shoulder)
Crowd: 1879

South Adelaide recorded back-to-back victories for the first time this season as they upset ladder leaders North Adelaide by 37 points at Prospect Oval on Saturday afternoon.

The Panthers shrugged off a slow start and kicked five goals straight in the second and final frames to propel themselves to a 15.5 (95) to 8.10 (58) victory, ending a five-game winning streak for the hosts.

The win sees South climb to fourth on the ladder ahead of an important clash with Woodville-West Torrens at home this weekend.

Jarrad Wright's men earned the two points through their uncompromising pressure around the contest and clean finishing in front of goals.

Conversely, the Roosters lacked the polish that had seen them shoot to the top of the SANFL Macca's League standings and found it hard to create space to move the ball within.

After the first quarter, South controlled most aspects of the game, getting their hands to 60 more touches and pushing it forward 11 more times than North.

Nick Liddle (33 possessions, eight clearances and nine tackles) and Abe Davis (35 touches and seven clearances) were instrumental in turning the tide in the clinches and their teammates forward of the ball reaped the benefits of some cleaner delivery.

Co-captain Joel Cross was a welcome return to the side. After missing Round 6 to mourn the loss of his father back home in Melbourne, Cross didn't miss a beat upon his return, racking up 27 touches and putting two through the big sticks.

Meanwhile, up forward Matt Rankine continued to thriving in his move forward, leading all goal kickers with four major scores.

The Panthers engine room were clicking on all cylinders as they won the clearance battle 39-30 despite North's 10 hit-out advantage at the stoppages.

Keegan Brooksby battled admirably as the sole ruckman all afternoon, claiming 30 hit-outs at the coalface and showcasing his mobility and strength around the ground with 19 disposals and eight marks. 

South opened the scoring through high-flying teenager Nathan Kreuger, who converted calmly from 50m out, before the Roosters piled on the next four goals.

Adam Hunter slotted the Panthers second in the closing stages of the term to keep them within range at the first change.

The second quarter belonged to the visitors, as Liam Fitt, Rankine and Cross hammered home three in quick succession to reclaim the lead.

Unfortunately, second-gamer Kreuger was forced to the sidelines with an apparent shoulder injury and would take no further part in the contest.

All in all, South slotted five straight for the term and restricted the usually free-scoring Roosters to just 1.2, taking a nine-point buffer into the major break.

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A see-sawing third term saw North claw back to within five points thanks to a long range strike from former Eagle Jarred Allmond, before counter punches from Fitt and Brooksby re-established a three goal advantage.

However, a goal to Alex Spina right on the siren would cut the lead to within two kicks as the sides headed for the final break in play.

It would not be enough to stop a rampaging Panthers outfit in the final term though as they convincingly overran their opponents, kicking five straight and holding the Roosters scoreless for the frame.

Tom Fields (21 disposals and two goals) and the impressive Rankine added a pair a piece for the quarter, with Rankine letting a vocal North Adelaide grandstand know about it afterward.

The Panthers defensive worth rate was fantastic throughout and most impressively in the final quarter as they held the Roosters goalless.

Former Eagle Jake Summerton continued to shine in his new found role in South's defence, while Matt Rose showed why he was selected for State duties the weekend before, racking up 26 possessions and eight marks as he marshalled the Panthers back six.

By the time Hunter added his second the game was all but over and South headed for the rooms with an impressive 37-point scalp under their belts.

South now look forward to three home games in their next four, starting with an enticing clash with Woodville-West Torrens at Hickinbotham Oval this Saturday.

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