Under-16 Match Report: Semi Final 1 vs North Adelaide

Under-16 Match Report

South Adelaide vs North Adelaide
Semi Final 1 - Hisense Stadium - 18/04/2021

Goals: Delean 7, Hargrave 4, Barrett, Draper, Duke
Best: Delean, Draper, Wheaton, Schirmer, Daris, Hargrave

South Adelaide's Under-16s are into the grand final after beating North Adelaide in the Semi-Final on Sunday.

After securing a finals berth with a win over North Adelaide last Saturday we would front up this week in a knockout final. 

A nailbiting one point loss mid week to the Eagles had been just enough to still secure top spot and our opponent would again be North after they beat Norwood to secure their finals position.

The boys were really focused and were keen to get off to a strong start after being jumped early the week before. 

Tom Schirmer gave us first use and when Phoenix Hargrave slotted a left foot snap 90 seconds in the boys were off to flier. Further goals for the quarter to Jack Delean and Benny Barrett had us in a good position but North's fast ball movement saw them claw back late to trail by 4 points at the first change.

The second quarter started like the first with an early Hargrave goal. Tom Wheaton and Jace Daris were giving strong effort through the middle and when Schirmer kicked his first we had a 22 point buffer.

North would continue to fight though and a couple of their own goals held them in striking distance. 

At half time the boys felt they were on top and if we stuck to our game and took our chances it would fall our way. 

The first 10 minutes of the third we really stepped up our pressure and it started to reflect on the scoreboard. Skipper Wheaton drifted forward mid quarter to kick a major and when Delean kicked his 3rd of the quarter we were out to a 42 point margin. 

Our defence was holding up well with Seb Hoeck finding some ball and Nick Schroder standing tall in the air. North would not give in though with 4 unanswered goals , 2 either side of 3 quarter time giving them hope. 

The boys dug in hard though to fight it out and regain some control; only allow North 1 more late quarter goal while kicking 3 of our own to seal a hard fought 32 point win and earn a spot in the grand final.

Jack Delean kicked 7 majors for the day while Phoenix Hargrave finished his work well for 4 of his own. Jace Daris laid 10 tackles and he had 17 touches in the midfield, as well as Wheaton continuing his consistent year winning 24 possessions to go with a goal.

We look forward to enjoying the week and facing off against Glenelg in Sunday's decider, at Flinders University Stadium from 11am.

Show that your are #SouthProud in 2021!