Reserves Match Report

South Adelaide vs Glenelg
Round 14 - Gliderol Stadium - 14/07/18

Goals: Noble, Whittlesea 2, Hall, Sparrow, Bogle, Steele, Haren, McKinnon
Best: Sparrow, Noble, Hunter, McKinnon, Haren, Whittlesea
Injuries: 

South Adelaide's Reserves rode a big final quarter to a 23-point win over Glenelg at Gliderol Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Trailing by as many as 20 in the second term, the Panthers scrapped and clawed to maintain pace with the Tigers in windy conditions at the Bay.

With the wind at their backs in the final quarter South quickly erased a three-point deficit and ran out 10.14 (74) to 7.9 (51) winners.

Tom Sparrow was impressive in his first senior appearance, racking up 23 touches and laying 12 tackles.

Meanwhile, Mark Noble (32 possessions and a goal) and Adam Hunter (29 disposals, eight clearances and eight tackles) responded well to being sent back to the Reserves, finding plenty of the footy in influential performances.

South's midfield worked hard throughout the afternoon, edging the clearance battle 34-33 despite Glenelg's ruck stocks controlling the hit outs 54-32.

The inside work of Hunter, Sparrow and Jesse McKinnon (21 touches, eight clearances and seven tackles) fed the Panthers runners well and the visitors were rewarded with 12 more forward entries (49-37) for their efforts.

Up forwards the leading targets of Tom Whittlesea and Ben Haren linked well all day, clunking 14 marks (eight contested) and kicking three goals between them.

Whittlesea in particular could have had a bigger day if not for some inaccuracy in front of the big sticks.

The wind played a big factor in how the game played out, with only three goals kicked to the northern end all game.

The Panthers took the biggest advantage of the breeze and their 5.5 last quarter would prove the difference.

Pleasingly South unleashed two more junior products, with the aforementioned Sparrow being named best on ground and Luke Bogle enjoying some moments, including a fine dribbled snap from the Snout's bar pocket to seal the win.

The win keeps the Reserves within a game-and-a-half of finals, with a game in hand against fifth place Eagles.

The twos are next in action this Saturday, July 21 against North Adelaide at Hickinbotham Oval from 11:40am.

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