Sturt overcomes plucky West Adelaide in SANFL

STURT is on the move up the ladder after overcoming a plucky West Adelaide at Richmond Oval.

Shane McAdam evades Errin Wasley. Picture: Matt Turner

STURT has climbed to equal top on the premiership ladder, but not before overcoming a testing challenge from a plucky West Adelaide for a 19-point win at Richmond Oval on Saturday.

The Double Blues were never headed from late in the first quarter, but they were forced to fight for the crucial two points against an improving opponent who refused to take the easy options.

“We made ourselves work hard for it,” Double Blues coach Marty Mattner said. “I felt like we controlled it all day and just did some silly mistakes which gave them easy goals.

“It is one of those games where you take the win and we get on with it, move on. It’s nice to be were we are at, equal with North Adelaide, but we are still inconsistent.”

The Bloods, now without Aaron Fielke after his surprise retirement and missing injured duo Jason Porplyzia and Jono Beech, were up for the battle from the outset.

Committed pressure and composure with their movement were evident, although their desire to press up the ground in defence proved costly early with the Double Blues forwards, led by Mark Evans, getting too much freedom to capitalise on Bloods’ turnovers.

Key Double Blues defender Fraser Evans had a huge influence in the first half as the visitors surged to a 25-point lead.

But each time they threatened to escape, the Bloods found an answer and clawed back into the game.

Bloods forward Mason Middleton was an issue for the Double Blues in the third term as the deficit was cut to just 12.

This is a quality Double Blues outfit, however, and they had answers of their own to keep the pesky Bloods just at arm’s length.

“The things we wanted to achieve we did the way we went about our footy,” Bloods coach Gavin Colville said.

“It was our inability to take our chances in the last quarter which cost us.

“As for honourable losses, there are still reasons you lost the game so in that aspect it is no different to any other loss.”

STURT 3.2 7.4 11.6 13.6 (84)

WEST ADELAIDE 3.2 5.3 8.4 10.5 (65)

BEST - Sturt: M. Evans, Greenslade, Kirkwood, Harms, Read, Taggert. West: Noble, Bates, Schiller, Keough, B. Turner, Stevens.

GOALS - Sturt: M. Evans 6, Osborn, McAdam 2, Dodd, Kirkwood, Taggert. West: Bates, Middleton 3, Karpany 2, Burgess, Wilson.

UMPIRES - Crosby, Lewis, Scott.

CROWD - 2264 at City Mazda Stadium, Richmond.