U16 & U18 Match Report: Round 10 vs WWT

Great Day for Panther Juniors: The South Adelaide Juniors clean-swept Woodville-West Torrens at Flinders University Stadium on Saturday.

The Panther Under-16s enjoyed a fast start that saw them edge out the Eagles by 22 points, 9.10 (64) to 6.6 (42). Then, making it 2 from 2, the Panther Under-18s battled hard to beat their rival by 19 points, 5.17 (47) to 4.4 (28).

The second-placed Panther Under-16s kicked off the junior action at Flinders University Stadium with a clash against the then third-placed Eagles.

And from the start, the under-16s looked to be in control.

The Panthers kicked 4 straight goals during the first quarter. While the Eagles wouldn’t register their first goal until during the early stages of the second term.

After enjoying a fast start, the U16s kept pushing – and by the final break, they had built a sturdy 45-point lead.

However, the final term went the way of the visitors: with the Eagles kicking 4 unanswered goals to bring the Panthers’ final winning margin to 22 points, 9.10 (64) to 6.6 (42).

The Panther Under-16s were well-supplied by the likes of Phoenix Hargrave, who had 34 disposals, 10 clearances, and 9 marks; Sid Draper, who had 21 disposals and 10 tackles; and Ryan Borlace, who had 16 hit-outs and kicked 2 goals.

Following the victorious under-16s’ match, the Panther Under-18s took to the field in the hope of gaining a much-needed win over their rival. But there wasn’t much to separate the sides.

Playing in tough conditions, only a point separated the teams at quarter time. The Panthers then threatened to break the game open but some wayward kicking minimised their chances.

Nonetheless, the side still grasped a promising 2.7 (19) to 1.2 (8) lead at halftime.

However, when the Eagles registered their second consecutive goal halfway through the third term: the Panthers found themselves trailing.

The blue and white managed to claw themselves back into the lead during the dying stages of the third quarter. But their slim 2-point lead was quickly forgotten as the Eagles kicked the first goal of the final quarter.

A Ryan Pearsons’ goal put the lead back within the Panthers’ hands. Then Koby Cockshell stepped up by booting the final 2 goals of the game to hand South the hard-fought 19-point win, 5.17 (47) to 4.4 (28).

Impressively, Cockshell – after sealing the win for the under-18s – went on to put his boots on for the Panthers the following day as he made his South Adelaide Reserves debut.

Also impressive for the Panther Under-18s were Cameron Kirkland (24 disposals, 6 marks) and Jack Delean (21 disposals, 10 tackles).

South Adelaide’s junior teams will now travel to Prospect Oval to face North Adelaide on Saturday, 11 June. The Panther Under-16s will kick things off at 11:00am, and the Panther Under-18s will follow from 1:15pm.

View the full Under-16s gallery here, thanks to Nick Hook. 

View the full Under-18s gallery here, thanks to Nick Hook. 

South Adelaide Under-18 vs Woodville West Torrens Under-18
Round 10 - Flinders University Stadium - 04/06/2022

Goals: Kockshell 2, Carney, Pearsons, Smith
Best: Delean, Howes, Barrett, Kirkland, Rodrigues

South Adelaide Under-16 vs West Adelaide Under-16
Round 10 - Flinders University Stadium- 04/06/2022

Goals: Draper 3, Borlace 2, Sterzl, Chapman, Papworth, Sheean
Best: Hargrave, Draper, Shortridge, Darling, Angus