Under-16 Match Report: Round 1 vs Sturt

Under-16 Match Report

South Adelaide vs Sturt
Round 1 - Thebarton Oval - 6/03/2021

Goals: Hoeck 3, Duke, Keir, Hargrave 2, Churchill

South Adelaide kick the season off with a win against Sturt on Saturday at Thebarton Oval.

After a solid pre season the young panthers headed down to Thebarton oval to kick off the season against Sturt in their round 1 clash. 

The Doubles Blues hit the scoreboard first to take an early lead while a bit of inaccuracy from close range showed the South boys were feeling the nerves.

When KI tall forward Zak Keir kicked truly we had our first major for the year. Sturt continued on with their solid play and were putting our defence under pressure.

Key back Nick Schroder ( 8 marks for the game ) was doing his best to repel their entries but they managed 2 more goals for the quarter and headed to the first break with a 10 point lead.

The second quarter started strongly with early goals to Keir and Seb Hoeck to even up the scoreboard.

It was becoming a tight contest but our midfield was starting to have an influence. Led by captain Tom Wheaton and Blake Rodrigues ( 25 disposals, 6 tackles ) we began to give ourselves more opportunity.

Sturt kicked 2.6 for the quarter to keep the door open and when Pheonix Hargrave kicked his first of 2 goals for the day it was 4 straight panther goals for the quarter to head in to the main break trailing by 4 points.

The boys came out with a real focus at being strong in the contest and started to put the opposition under some real pressure.

Early goals to Ayden Duke and Sid Draper off the back of strong tackles set the tone.

Big man Tom Schirmer was giving the mids first look at the ball and half way through the quarter the lead was out to around 3 goals.

With Reynella product Jack Delean looking dangerous every time he had the ball & tall defenders Cooper Bobridge and Myles Amos intercepting numerous Sturt entries the boys sensed a chance to put the score on the board.

Skipper Wheaton was stretchered off midway through the third term but the boys held strong to kick 2 more and make it a 5 goal to 0 quarter, and take a 26 point advantage into the last break.

To Sturts credit they came out strong in the last quarter and put the Panthers under pressure kicking 2 quick goals to cut the margin in half.

The boys continued to work hard though with Hargrave and Jace Daris competing strongly around the contest and when Daris slotted a set shot from in front the lead was again at a more comfortable position.

Sturt kicked 4 for the quarter but when Hoeck finished off a great team goal late in the game the boys had sealed the win and got off to a great start. 

We now look forward to taking on Centrals on Saturday morning back home at Flinders University Stadium. 

Show the Girls that your are #SouthProud in 2021!