U16 & U18 Match Report: Round 9 @ West

The South Adelaide Juniors’ trip to Hisense Stadium to face West Adelaide ended in a 14-point win for the U16s and a 50-point loss for the U18s.

Different starts led to different results on Saturday: the Panther Under-16s enjoyed a quick start that set up their hard-fought win, 10.7 (67) to 7.11 (53).

While the Panther Under-18s suffered a slow start that led to their tough defeat, 7.9 (51) to 15.11 (101).

The Panther Under-16s have climbed to the second spot on the ladder following their gritty win over the seventh-placed Bloods.

In that match, Phoenix Hargrave led the way for the Panthers with a game-high total of disposals, 27; tackles, 11; and marks, 8.

Also impressive were Cohen Shortridge (23 disposals, 10 tackles and 2 goals) and Ryan Borlace (38 hit-outs). 

Playing in tough conditions, the Panthers pounced on the Bloods with 3 unanswered goals during the opening term – and the side continued to hold this margin for the majority of the match.

However, despite this fast start, an upset looked to be brewing during the final minutes of the match when West Adelaide came within a kick of snatching the lead.

But the Panthers were able to steady through goals by Dakota Sterzl and Oliver Goss – which sealed the 10.7 (67) to 7.11 (53) win.

Following this match, it was then the Panther Under-18s' turn to face the Bloods and – as it would turn out – the side would struggle to find their footing in this game.

The Panther Under-18s created several chances during the opening term, and they had even registered more scoring shots than their opponents, but unfortunately, they couldn’t turn these chances into major scores.

And after South headed into the first break trailing by 13 points, 1.6 (12) to 4.1 (25): the Panthers could not keep pace.

South did manage to record 6 goals after the quarter-time break, but during that time they also conceded 11 goals – which saw them fall to a bitter loss, 7.9 (51) to 15.11 (101).

Player wise; Charlie Duncan had a game-high total of 30 disposals to go along with his 7 marks and 6 tackles. Jack Delean (15 disposals, 2 goals) and Blake Rodrigues (18 disposals, 9 tackles) were also strong performers for South. 

The Panther Junior sides will return home to Flinders University Stadium on Saturday, June 4, for their clashes against Woodville-West Torrens. The under-16s will kick things off at 11:00am and the under-18s will follow from 1:15pm. 

South Adelaide Under-18 vs West Adelaide Under-18
Round 9 - Hisense Stadium - 28/05/2022

Goals: Delean, Kirkland 2, Cockshell, Hooper, Pearsons
Best: Schroder, Marshall, Rodrigues, Magor, Duncan

South Adelaide Under-16 vs West Adelaide Under-16
Round 9 - Hisense Stadium- 28/05/2022

Goals: Cartwright, Shortridge 2, Bennett, Carman, Goss, Hargrave, Sterzl, Wintinna
Best: Hargrave, Shortridge, Darling, Cartwright, Borlace