U16 & U18 Match Report: Round 4 @ Sturt

A tough day at Wigan Oval for South Adelaide’s junior sides as the U16s lost by 51 points and the U18s went down by 13 points against Sturt on Friday.

The Panther under-16s suffered their first loss of the season, going down by 51 points against the Double Blues, 7.7 (49) to 15.10 (100).

The under-18s faired a lot better than their Round One result against Sturt as this time they fell to a narrow 13-point loss, 12.15 (87) to 15.10 (100). 

In the Panther under-16s match, Phoenix Hargrave led the way with a team-high total of 21 disposals. While Benny Barrett kicked 2 goals and Jake Agnew had 22 hit-outs.

Despite their familiar names playing well, it was unfamiliar territory for the undefeated under-16s as they conceded 4 goals during the opening term to trail 22 points at the first change.

However, the boys in the blue and white did fight back.

At halftime, they had cut the lead down to 17 points, meaning they needed 3 straight kicks to take the lead. But this proved to be easier said than done.

In the second half, the Panther under-16s registered 3 goals and conceded 9. This set up the bitter 7.7 (49) to 15.10 (100) defeat.

The under-18s then took to the field in hope of gaining redemption for their 76-point defeat against Sturt in Round One.

And it started well as the Panthers kicked 4 goals during the opening term—with 2 of them coming courtesy of Koby Cockshell. By the end of the match, Cockshell’s goal tally sat at a game-high of 5.

However, the Panthers’ 2 goal lead was quickly snatched away as the home side kicked 5 goals during the second term.

Yet the Panthers continued to match it with the Double Blues. This was until the late stages of the third term when they conceded 4 unanswered goals within 6 minutes.

This late damage proved too much of a hurdle for South to overcome and the side would fall to the 12.15 (87) to 15.10 (100) defeat.

Jaiden Magor (18 disposals, 6 marks) and Angus Bradley (21 disposals, 6 clearances) were among the standouts for the blue and white.

Likewise, Jack Delean continued to show glimpses of his potential as he collected 18 touches and kicked 3 goals.

Both sides will look to regain their winning form when they return home to Flinders University Stadium for their clash against North Adelaide on Saturday, April 23. With the under-16s starting at 11:00 am, and the under-18s taking to the ground from 1:15 pm.

South Adelaide Under-18 @ Sturt Under-18
Round 4 - Wigan Oval - 15/04/2022

Goals: Cockshell 5, Delean 3, Magor, Bradley, Pearsons, Wheaton
Best: Cockshell, Bradley, Magor, Copley, Schroder 

South Adelaide Under-16 @ Sturt Under-16
Round 4 - Wigan Oval - 15/04/2022

Goals: Barrett 2, Sheean, Goss, Hargrave, Pope, Shortridge
Best: Barrett, Agnew, Hargrave, Shortridge, Nicholls