Adelaide Footy League round two: Brighton misses shot to win and Payneham Norwood Union goes 2-0
A missed shot from 25m out straight in front has cost Brighton its first win in division one, plus match reports from every division in round two of the Adelaide Footy League.
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Season previews: Division one | Division two | Divisions three to seven
Payneham Norwood Union has stamped itself as the team to beat in division one of the Adelaide Footy League, while a newcomer spurns a golden chance to snare its first win in the top flight.
Plus, reigning premiers Tea Tree Gully bounces back and some big margins down the divisions in the round two match reports from around the league.
DIVISION ONE
Brighton was so close to its first win in its debut Adelaide Footy League division one season on Saturday against Adelaide University it could almost touch it.
Bombers forward Jack Juniper marked 25m out from goal straight in front with his side trailing by five points and quickly went back to take the kick.
But almost as the ball hit Juniper’s boot, the siren sounded and the big full-forward sprayed the shot for a point.
Uni held on to win 12.13 (85) to 12.9 (81).
Brighton led 5.1 to 3.2 at quarter-time but lost its way in the second quarter to trail 9.5 to 6.3 at half-time, before hitting back after the main break.
Bombers coach Joel Tucker said there were good signs despite the loss.
“We were playing catch up in the second half and in a way it was a bit of a carbon copy of our first game,” Tucker said.
“It was hard to swallow but there were positives and we are finding out what we need to do to compete at this level.’’
Jay Boyle (three goals), Sam Kennedy and Josh Spurling were among the best for Brighton, while Ben Tate kicked three goals.
Damian Cunningham, Charlie Parker (two goals) and Ben Adams impressed for Uni, while Nick Langridge kicked four goals.
Payneham Norwood Union is top of the ladder and looms as the team to beat this season after accounting for Rostrevor Old Collegians 15.11 (101) to 11.10 (76) at Campbelltown Memorial Oval.
The Falcons, along with only Port District, are unbeaten to start the campaign following last week’s demolition of Tea Tree Gully.
Star forward pair Liam Davis (five goals) and Alex Forster (four) will be hard to stop this year.
At Largs Reserve, Port District’s new-look depth was on show when it easily accounted for Henley.
The Magpies triumphed 17.16 (118) to 8.7 (55) to make it two wins from two games.
Tea Tree Gully’s seasoned players and rising stars stood up to the pressure to help lead their side to victory against Goodwood Saints at Pertaringa Oval.
Playing their Beyond Blue match to honour the memory of Wolves player Bennett Sparrow and Saints coach David Baker, who took their lives 10 and three years ago respectively, TTG won 12.11 (83) to 11.8 (74).
Goodwood led 3.1 to 1.5 at the first break but the home side hit back to lead 7.7 to 5.2 at half-time and 8.9 to 7.6 at the last change.
Prince Alfred Old Collegians kept its nerve under pressure to hold out old rivals St Peter’s Old Collegians in a tough contest at Caterer Oval.
The Reds won 8.10 (58) to 7.9 (51) after controlling play in the second and third quarters to lead 7.10 to 3.6 at the last change.
DIVISION TWO
Sacred Heart Old Collegians, Unley Mercedes and Salisbury North all moved to 2-0 with solid wins in division two on Saturday.
The Jets were far too strong for local rivals Scotch Old Collegians in their meeting at Scotch College.
For the second successive match star ruckman Luke McEntee – recruited from Reynella in the off-season – led the way for the Jets in the 20.13 (133) to 12.9 (81) victory.
Midfielder Nathan Chettle was in top form despite a limited pre-season and key forward Nick Petch gave the hosts’ defenders headaches all day as he booted five goals.
Roland Ah Chee (three goals), Simon Wong and Nick Heaslip were best for Scotch OC.
Salisbury North heads into the Easter break in winning form but with improvement to come, according to coach Joe Hay.
The Hawks led all match to win against Modbury 12.8 (80) to 6.10 (46), setting up their away victory with an opening quarter of 6.2 to 2.1.
Hay was pleased with the effort but said there was more work to be done.
“Modbury at Modbury is always a dangerous side and, even though they have been down, the key for us was to stay focused on our game,” Hay said.
“It was nice to see our game plan working but there are still things to improve as we go.”
James Solly best for Salisbury North, while Hay was impressed with Adelaide Crows development-listed player James Loneragan.
Sacred Heart Old Collegians made it two wins from two games when it accounted for Gaza at home, 13.12 (90) to 6.3 (39).
Nick Forster, Tristan Carcuro and Peter Spurling were best for SHOC, while Harrison Cock kicked five goals.
Promoted side Seaton Ramblers produced a strong second half to upset Broadview away from home.
The Rams triumphed 16.13 (109) to 11.5 (71) at Broadview Oval after scores were level on 4.7 to 5.1 at half-time.
Luke Rochester, Brett Harland (four goals) and Bryan Leahy led Seaton’s best players, while Daniel Polanski (five goals) and Lleyton Hedges (four goals) were focal points in attack.
PHOS Camden produced a gritty effort to beat Athelstone.
The Phantoms took the points 13.11 (89) to 12.8 (80) after trailing 5.4 to 2.2 at quarter-time and leading 8.5 to 5.5 at the long break.
Matthew Jacquier, Sam Inglis and Adam Scholz were among the stars for PHOS.
Tom Langford (four goals) and Harrison Cumming (three goals) played well in attack.
DIVISION THREE
Portland produced a spirited fightback to draw with Golden Grove in their division three game at Harpers Field.
The Thunder trailed by 13 points at the last change before booting 5.3 to 3.2 in the final term to tie things up at 13.8 (86) apiece.
There was silence around the ground after the siren, which followed some desperate defending by Portland in the final minute.
Darcy Finnie, Corey Evans and Jordan Weetra played well for the Thunder.
Ex-AFL forward Lindsay Thomas booted two goals.
Michael Walters kicked five for Golden Grove and star recruit Luke Barmby, formerly of Central District, was the Kookaburras’ best.
The rematch of last season’s division four grand final was a fizzer as Glenunga made light work of Gepps Cross in a 22.24 (156) to 4.7 (31) belting at Webb Oval.
Steven Pollock took full advantage of the hosts’ dominance, kicking eight goals.
Old Ignatians dispatched Morphettville Park by 80 points at Kellett Reserve and it could have been more if not for the visitors’ inaccuracy.
Iggies kicked a wayward 14.25 (109) to the Roos’ 4.5 (29).
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Flinders Park 16.13 (109) d Westminster OS 6.16 (52) at Flinders Park
■ Plympton 14.13 (97) d North Haven 11.13 (79) at Plympton Oval
DIVISION FOUR
SMOSH West Lakes won its second game in a row by less than a goal in division four.
The Lions edged Walkerville 13.13 (91) to 14.6 (90) away, one week after a two-point victory on the road over Edwardstown.
SMOSH led by 36 points at half-time but were reeled in to lead 12.11 to 12.4 at the last break.
Woodville South turned its fortunes around, accounting for Kilburn by 66 points at home.
The Cats, coming off a tough 64-point defeat to start life in the fourth tier, outgunned the Chics in the 21.12 (138) to 10.12 (72) triumph.
Mitcham showed no mercy in a 23.13 (151) to 9.12 (66) thrashing of local rival Colonel Light Gardens at Price Memorial Oval.
Ben Jennings, Lachlan Hall and Harrison Lyons dominated for the Hawks in the clash between two sides separated by only a couple of kilometres.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ CBC Old Collegians 13.8 (86) d Pembroke OS 9.9 (63) at East Parklands
■ Edwardstown 16.11 (107) d Pooraka 12.13 (85) at Lindblom Park
DIVISION FIVE
Smithfield moved on from last week’s controversy, where it was stripped of a win over Lockleys for playing unregistered players, by defeating northern rival Eastern Park.
The Panthers chalked up 31 scoring shots in its 10.21 (81) to 10.9 (69) victory at Smithfield Oval.
Pulteney crushed Rosewater 30.21 (201) to 7.6 (48) at Morgan Oval to continue the Dogs’ tough start to life in division five.
Navy Blues star Daniel Polec kicked seven goals for the second week in a row, while Josh Giddings and Dalton Tucker dominated the opposition.
Rosewater copped a 70-point defeat at home to Hope Valley in the opening round.
Kenilworth continued its winning ways, accounting for Salisbury away last Saturday.
The Kookaburras hit the scoreboard to prevail 19.14 (128) to 5.5 (35) at Salisbury Oval and followed on from their opening-round win against Trinity Old Scholars.
Jordan Wilson-King kicked five goals in a dominant display for Kenilworth, while Nick Chesser and Shaun Clarke played well.
Andrew Liverton (four goals) and Ben Wright (three goals) kept the scoreboard ticking.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Hope Valley 16.15 (111) d Lockleys 9.10 (64) at Hope Valley Oval
■ Blackfriars OS 6.11 (47) d 4.12 (36) at St Dominic’s Oval
DIVISION SIX
Hectorville announced its arrival in division six with a 106-point thumping of Para Hills at Daly Oval on Saturday.
The Hounds, who were relegated from division five in 2018, kicked a wayward 7.15 in the first half before piling on the goals in accurate fashion to win 22.19 (151) to 7.3 (45).
After having the bye in round one, Hectorville will have another week off with the league-wide Easter break this weekend.
It then faces a battling Brahma Lodge.
The Tigers were no match for West Croydon on Saturday as they went down 27.19 (181) to 6.7 (43) at Fawk Reserve.
A 16-goal first half set the big win up for the Hawks.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Fitzroy 18.17 (125) d O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale 7.6 (48)
■ Elizabeth 12.13 (85) d Marion 6.9 (45)
■ Ingle Farm – bye
DIVISION SEVEN
Central United got up by two points in a division seven thriller over Mawson Lakes at Mofflin Reserve on Saturday.
The accurate Bulldogs prevailed 15.6 (96) to 14.10 (94) as Adrian Mark, Thomas Hamilton and Kirran Cornish led the way.
St Paul’s Old Scholars continued its strong start by dismissing another contender in convincing fashion on Saturday.
Saints welcomed Houghton Districts to St Paul’s College and promptly sent them packing in the 21.11 (137) to 7.8 (50) defeat.
Thomas Schlicker booted five goals and Lucio Malatesta impressed for the second successive week as the hosts sent a message to the competition.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Adelaide Lutheran 13.6 (84) d Greenacres 8.10 (58) at Edward Smith Reserve
■ Mitchell Park 16.7 (103) d Flinders University 6.7 (43) at Flinders University
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