Uni ends extensive wait without a win at Goodwood Oval with victory over the Saints
Adelaide University has snapped a long winless drought with a victory which could shape the division one relegation battle. Match reports from every Adelaide Footy League division.
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For 13 years Adelaide University travelled to Goodwood Oval and lost, until Saturday.
The Blacks have finally broken their bogey ground curse with a crucial win in division one.
Plus an old collegians mid-season recruit shows his worth and a top of the table battle in division two lives up to expectations in Messenger Community News’ wrap of every Adelaide Footy League division from round 12.
DIVISION ONE
It was a win 13 years in the making and it could not have come at a better time for Adelaide University.
The Blacks defeated Goodwood at Goodwood Oval on Saturday for the first time since 2006 and struck a potentially telling blow in the division one relegation battle in the process.
Trailing the Saints by two points at the last change, Uni rallied with a gritty three-goal to zero final term to run out 11.11 (77) to 8.12 (60) victors.
Charlie Parker booted four goals in a starring role for the Blacks and had strong support from Edward Sims and Ben Adams. Mason Ellis was best for Goodwood.
The win moved the eighth-placed Blacks two points clear of Henley and Tea Tree Gully in the relegation zone with six rounds to play.
Uni will host the Wolves this Saturday in what could be a season-defining clash for both sides.
The rollercoaster ride of footy’s highs and lows were on show for Henley on Saturday.
Awarded the match against Port District the previous week after a yellow-carded player’s breach during the teams’ drawn game, the Sharks fell away after half-time against Brighton on Saturday to lose 16.15 (111) to 7.11 (53).
Henley coach Jarrad Parker said the Port District result was handy but had not affected his or the players’ approach to the Bombers game.
“If anything it gave them a bit of a lift and motivation for this game and the season, that there was something to strive for,’’ Parker said.
“But the approach wasn’t too much different to the way we would normally prepare.
“This week against Goodwood Saints will be a massive test.
“We are desperate to stay in division one.’’
Best for Henley were Charlie Morrison, Joshua James and Liam Martin.
John McPherson (three goals), Jacob Carger and Otis Carthy had strong days for the Bombers.
Port District is back in the pack of teams scrambling for a finals after its fluctuating week on and off the ground.
To add to the woes of the result overturned last week, the Magpies went down last Saturday to top side Prince Alfred Old Collegians, 13.11 (89) to 11.11 (77) after leading by seven points at half-time.
Former Sturt player Campbell Wildman returned an outstanding game for the Old Reds, earning the praise of coach Brett Backwell.
Wildman, who played 10 league games for the Double Blues, booted four goals and was named best.
“Campbell really stepped up and I think played his best game for us since coming from Sturt (in May),’’ Backwell said.
“He kicked four goals and just played so well. I think he’s found his feet now.’’
St Peter’s Old Collegians, fifth, stumbled against second-placed Payneham Norwood Union at Caterer Oval in a 14.12 (96) to 8.14 (62) loss.
Division one’s leading goal kicker Alex Forster booted six for the Falcons to take his season tally to 46.
Rostrevor Old Collegians piled on the pressure against Tea Tree Gully at Pertaringa Oval, cruising in 16.21 (117) to 6.7 (43).
William Mead, Luke Manuel (two goals) and Lewis McCormack shone for ROC, while Chad Schoenmakers, Matthew Hallandal and Brodie Latham battled well for the Wolves.
DIVISION TWO
Sacred Heart Old Collegians prised open Unley Mercedes’ stranglehold on division two by prevailing in a tight encounter at home on Saturday.
In a fluctuating finish, the Jets were beaten 9.7 (61) to 8.9 (57) – just their second loss of the season.
SHOC moved just one point behind the ladder leaders with the win, which was set up by Ned Brooks, Brad Noble and Peter Spurling.
Josh Stevens and Simon Munn (four goals) led the way for Unley Mercedes.
Nine-placed Scotch Old Collegians won just its second game and produced one of the upsets of the season when it edged out finals-bound Salisbury North at home.
Scotch trailed by nine points at the last change before kicking 3.10 to 2.1 in the last quarter.
Salisbury North coach Joe Hay says his side lacks the killer finish at times as he pondered why his team involved in so many close games.
In the past six games the Hawks have won, lost or drawn by less than seven points in four of those division two matches.
“Again this game should not have been a nailbiter,’’ Hay said.
“We didn’t come to play, again. When we get on top and have a bit of a buffer we tend to give the other team a bit of a sniff to get back into the game.
“We just seem to keep teams in the game. We do rely a lot on our leaders and senior players and maybe we need to share that load a bit more.’’
It was a fiery encounter at Max Amber Sportsfield as Athelstone held its nerve to take a 13-point victory over Broadview and move to third on the ladder.
The Raggies led 12.15 to 6.8 at the final change and the Tigers hit back in the fourth term, but it was not enough as the scores finished 13.17 (95) to 12.10 (82).
Christian Elliott and captain Luke Rander booted four goals each for Athelstone, while former Broadview player Kane Nurton starred playing against his old side for the second time.
Adrian Stephens fought hard for the visitors.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ PHOS Camden 20.17 (137) d Gaza 6.12 (48) at Camden Oval
■ Seaton Ramblers 13.11 (89) d Modbury 10.10 (70) at Modbury Sports Reserve
DIVISION THREE
The finals picture is becoming very clear in division three after the top five sides all recorded victories on Saturday over their bottom half rivals.
Golden Grove was the pick of the performers as it thumped Westminster Old Scholars 27.19 (181) to 9.11 (65) at Harpers Field on Saturday.
The margin was 13 points at the first break before the Kookaburras went on a tear, booting 22 goals to the Dragons’ six after quarter time.
Michael Walters (six goals), Brayden Shaw (six) and Tyler Harris (five) were constant threats in attack for Golden Grove, while Todd Sheppard and Duane Schultz starred.
Brock McFarlane battled hard for the visitors.
Third-placed Old Ignatians put a dent in Portland’s finals hopes with a 15.14 (104) to 11.10 (76) defeat at Karen Rolton Oval.
Former Port Adelaide goalsneak Lindsay Thomas did his best to drag the Thunder across the line with five goals. Portland, sixth, is two wins behind fifth-placed Golden Grove.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Flinders Park 16.10 (106) d Gepps Cross 8.9 (57) at Flinders Park Oval
■ North Haven 17.15 (117) d Morphettville Park 6.6 (42) at Largs North Reserve
■ Glenunga 15.13 (103) d Plympton 7.5 (47) at Plympton Oval
DIVISION FOUR
CBC Old Collegians rolled through bottom side Colonel Light Gardens with ease in a 102-point thrashing in division four.
The Dolphins had their way all day at the East Parklands in the 24.17 (161) to 8.11 (59) demolition.
A five-goal haul from Matthew Raymond and strong outings by Chris Draper and Benet Copping set up the victory, which pushed CBCOC up to third.
Pembroke Old Scholars regained hope of staving off a third-straight relegation by upsetting fifth side Woodville South 10.11 (71) to 8.20 (68) at Ledger Oval.
The Kings led at every change to capitalise on the Cats’ inaccuracy in front of goal.
Pembroke was in division two in 2017 but claimed back-to-back wooden spoons to fall to division three. It is seventh on the ladder, one win ahead of Walkerville and Pooraka in eighth and ninth.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Edwardstown 18.14 (122) d Mitcham 13.11 (89) at Price Memorial Oval
■ Kilburn 19.12 (126) d Walkerville 11.9 (75) at Walkerville Oval
■ SMOSH West Lakes 23.20 (158) d Pooraka 10.9 (69) at West Lakes Shore Oval
DIVISION FIVE
Salisbury’s charge towards the division five finals picked up more steam as the Magpies made it two wins in-a-row with a 15.9 (99) to 6.6 (42) triumph away to Trinity Old Scholars on Saturday.
They have now won five of their past seven matches, including a shock defeat of unbeaten Kenilworth the week before.
Josh Mann booted six goals in a best on ground performance for Salisbury. The Magpies are sixth in the ladder and only behind fifth-placed Lockleys on percentage.
The Demons were no match for Pulteney when they travelled to Morgan Oval only to be smashed 17.17 (119) to 7.13 (55).
Joshua Giddings led the way for the Navy Blues, third on the ladder, and Luke Detullio was best for Lockleys.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Hope Valley 25.16 (166) d Eastern Park 12.13 (85) at Hope Valley Oval
■ Kenilworth 12.14 (86) d Smithfield 11.15 (81) at Smithfield Oval
■ Rosewater 20.6 (126) d Blackfriars OS 9.9 (63) at St Dominic’s Oval
DIVISION SIX
It was not a pretty picture when bottom hosted top in division six on Saturday.
The winless O’Sullivan Beach Lonsdale was no match for the high-flying West Croydon, crashing 30.15 (195) to 5.8 (38).
The Lions had a reasonable first quarter to trail 6.4 to 2.1 but there was little joy from there as the Hawks slammed on 10 goals to two in the second term and ran away with the match.
Luke Woodcock had a day out with 10 majors while Kyle O’Toole booted six.
Ben Pittard, Dan Loveridge and Trevor Rigney (four goals) battled well for OSB Lonsdale.
Friday night lights made for a different setting in the Ingle Farm and Para Hills week night clash at Rowe Park.
It was the Bulldogs who adapted better in the 10.21 (81) to 11.12 (78) come from behind win.
Ingle Farm trailed by 28 points at the final change, partly thanks to a woeful 4.18 kicking performance, but stormed home in the last.
The win kept the sixth-placed Bulldogs well and truly in the hunt for finals.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Hectorville 21.13 (139) d Brahma Lodge 5.8 (38) at Daly Oval
■ Fitzroy 13.5 (83) d Elizabeth 6.8 (44) at Fitzroy Sports Club
■ Bye – Marion
DIVISION SEVEN
St Paul’s Old Scholars appear unstoppable after extending its winning streak in division seven to 12 on Saturday.
Third-placed Mawson Lakes was the latest victim of the unbeaten ladder leaders in a comfortable 12.16 (88) to 3.8 (26) defeat at Mawson Lakes Oval.
Central United and Adelaide Lutheran could not be separated in a battled of the Bulldogs as their clash ended with a 11.17 (83) to 13.5 (83) draw at Mofflin Reserve.
The hosts led by 25 points at three quarter time before Lutheran stormed home in the final term before the stalemate finish.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Greenacres 13.19 (97) d Mitchell Park 9.5 (59) at Edward Smith Reserve
■ Houghton Districts 15.12 (102) d Flinders University 12.16 (88) at Houghton Memorial Oval