MRS Property Reserves Match Report Round 5: vs Norwood

MRS Property Reserves Match Report

South Adelaide vs Norwood
Round 5 - Coopers Stadium - 30/04/21

Goals: Nobes 4, McCreery, Megins, Whitbread,
Best: Sawford, Douglass, Juckers, Kappler, Coleman, Nobes

South Adelaide Reserves claim their first win of 2021 after defeating Norwood by eleven points at Coopers Stadium on Friday night.

The Panthers faced off against the Redlegs for the second time in five weeks, except this time the side came out with a much different result.

Playing under the lights of Coopers Stadium, the Panthers built a strong lead midway through the match and they never looked back, winning 7.11 (53) to 5.12 (42).

Ben Sawford was impressive for the Panthers, finishing with 25 touches and 11 clearances, while cult-figure Daniel Nobes made his presence felt with four goals.

Coming into the match on the back of four losses, things looked worrying for the visitors as Norwood opened the scoring early into the first term.

It wouldn't be until midway through quarter that the Panthers were able to respond, after a clever ruck tap by Bailey Griffiths allowed South with a decent look inside 50 which was ultimately capitalised on by Nobes.

While the Panthers seemed strong on the offense end, they remained steadfast in defence with Aaron Douglass collecting 7 marks and 6 rebound 50s.

Leading by just a point at the first change, the Panthers begun to build momentum during the second term something that they have lacked during the previous clashes this season.

And with the tall tandem of Ollie Megins and Griffiths in the middle, the Panthers wracked up the hit-outs, 56 to 31.

Jake McCreery opened the scoring for Panthers during the second, while two more goals from Nobes handed the Panthers a promising 4.7 (31) to 2.7 (19) lead at halftime.

Norwood threatened to score early into the third term, yet the Panthers defence were able to rebound and turn it into a goal at the other end courtesy of Sam Whitbread.

Minutes later the Panthers' forward pressure forced a turnover which gave Nobes another look up-forwardand he made them pay with his fourth of the night.

Norwood once again came at the Panthers, but an intercept by Zac Dumesny allowed the Panthers to prevent a late Leggies fightback.

In the dying minutes, Megins plucked the ball out of the air and went back to drill his first ever goal for the Panthers, a goal which would also prove to be crucial at the end of the match.

Leading 7.10 (52) to 5.12 (42), the Panthers were on track to claim their first win of the 2021 season but still had to hold off the fast-finishing Redlegs who kicked two unanswered goals during the final term.

With just elven points separating the two sides, the ball spent several minutes deep in Norwood's forward line but the Panthers were able to claim a hard-fought win, 7.11 (53) to 5.12 (42).

The South Adelaide Reserves will now face the Eagles for the second time in a month, with the Panthers travelling to Maughan Thiem Kia Oval on Saturday, May 8, from 11:30am.

Are you on board for 2021?