Glenelg downs Woodville-West Torrens by 15 points in SANFL thriller at Woodville Oval
High-flying Glenelg has produced a late flurry to see off a spirited Woodville-West Torrens fightback and win a gripping SANFL contest at Woodville Oval.
High-flying Glenelg has produced a late flurry to see off a spirited Woodville-West Torrens fightback and win a gripping SANFL contest at Woodville Oval.
The scores were locked at 10.5 apiece at three-quarter time on Sunday, as a thrilling encounter between two high quality teams neared a dramatic conclusion.
Tigers standout Luke Partington (43 disposals) goaled on the run to edge his side in front midway through the final term, only for Nick Moore to strike back for the Eagles.
Timmy Sumner then kicked a clever major around the corner for the visitors and dribbled one through soon after, as the match approached fourth-quarter time-on.
Brad Close sealed the Bays’ 15-point success with a composed effort at the death.
The gritty triumph ensured second-placed Glenelg kept up the pressure on ladder-leader Adelaide as the minor round gets on to the home straight.
Tigers coach Mark Stone was proud of his charges’ response, after they had squandered a 22-point quarter-time lead.
“It’s great to win, but it was a hell of a game,” Stone said.
“It was tough and had all the elements that you want.
“It was a big challenge for us … and when they get on a bit of a roll, you’ve really got to dig your heels in and be quite tough and stick to your plan.
“They got under our skin a little bit with some physical stuff … and good teams are going to challenge you in that way.
“But one of our mantras is play to the end and that’s how it played out.”
The gutsy Eagles, meanwhile, tasted defeat for the first time in six matches, a run stretching back to a 50-point loss at the Bay in round five.
Mentor Sam Lonergan praised his players’ commitment and hunger, but rued a string of missed goal kicking chances early in the last period.
“It was one of the best games of SANFL footy I’ve seen for a long time,” Lonergan said.
“We’re obviously disappointed to lose because we’re out here to win, but I was relatively pleased with the way we played today.
“Because the game was so fast backwards and forwards … whoever landed that first blow in the fourth quarter was going to get a bit of an advantage.
“But we just couldn’t capitalise on that.”
Glenelg bolted out of the blocks to build a commanding quarter-time advantage.
Luke Reynolds nailed a classy left-footed snap and surprise-packet Tom Schott booted three quick-fire goals to get the Tigers off to a flyer
The utility had previously registered just six majors in his 27-game league career.
Spearhead Liam McBean marked strongly and converted, before James Rowe (four goals) benefited from a turnover to finally notch the hosts’ first 18 minutes into the opening term.
Close hit back for the Bays, but Jack Gaffney nailed a beauty on the move to keep the Eagles in it.
The home side roared back into the match in the second period, kicking five goals to one to take the lead for the first time.
Big man Seb Guilhaus was on target from a tricky angle for the Eagles, before Brad Agnew’s major for Glenelg.
From there it was one-way traffic as Nick Hayes and James Boyd goaled.
Rowe then kicked two in as many minutes, the second a smart finish after a sweeping team move, to put the Eagles up by two at half-time.
The teams went goal-for-goal to end an action-packed third term level.
Jared Petrenko, Jake Comitogianni and the lively Rowe kept the home side in front for the bulk of the quarter.
But Andrew Bradley, Partington and McBean, with a calm kick in time-on, tied up the contest.
Nick Hayes, Guilhaus and Angus Poole spurned opportunities to hand the Eagles a decisive buffer early in the fourth quarter, before the Tigers rallied late to prevail.
SCOREBOARD
GLENELG 6.1 7.2 10.5 14.6 (90)
WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS 2.3 7.4 10.5 11.9 (75)
BEST — Glenelg: Partington, Snook, Agnew, Bradley, Close, Schott, Curran. Eagles: Boyd, Hall, Rowe, Foote, Lonergan, Sharrad.
GOALS — Glenelg: Schott 3, McBean, Sumner, Partington, Close 2, Reynolds, Agnew, Bradley. Eagles: Rowe 4, Boyd, Gaffney, Guilhaus, N. Hayes, Petrenko, Comitogianni, Moore.
UMPIRES — Harris, Philp, Crosby.
CROWD — 1975 at Woodville Oval.