Sturt go down to Woodville-West Torrens by 17 points at Woodville

STURT kicked its lowest score against Woodville-West Torrens as the Eagles extended their winning streak to six in a dour struggle at Woodville Sunday.

31/5/15 SANFL Sturt V Eagles at Woodville Oval. Matt Goldsworthy of the Eagles chased by Guy Page of Sturt. Picture by Matt Turner.

STURT kicked its lowest score against Woodville-West Torrens as the Eagles extended their winning streak to six in a dour struggle at Woodville Sunday.

The Double Blues were held goalless for a half and collectively kicked less goals than Eagles forward Michael Wundke but, despite the ugly statistics, they were still a chance of winning the clash entering time-on in the last quarter.

Sturt entered the final term trailing by 27 points and had been comprehensively outplayed to that point but dominated the last quarter only to butcher opportunities.

Sturt had a staggering 21 inside-50s to three in the final term and peppered the goals only to be denied time and time again by a staunch Eagles defence and by its own inefficiency.

Sturt key targets Angus Bruggemann and Sam Smith failed to kick a goal between them and that was one of the key difference in a match played in wet conditions.

At the other end, Wundke — in his first game back from a calf strain — took his chances and gave the Eagles a target.

“We weren’t able to convert that last kick going forward, which was a frustration,’’ Sturt coach Seamus Maloney said. “We needed to put some scoreboard pressure on early in that final term and we weren’t able to do it.

“I thought our forwards all struggled for most of the day. We didn’t have a clear winner up there.”

The Eagles have now conceded a miserly five goals in seven quarters of football and celebrated 25 years since the merger of Woodville and West Torrens by holding Sturt to its lowest score since their clubs joined forces.

The Eagles’ six-match winning streak is the longest since its premiership year in 2006 and while coach Michael Godden was not thrilled with the style of the match he praised his team for grinding out a result.

“Today was a pretty ordinary game of football, it was ugly and slow but you’re going to have those games from time to time when it’s wet and you’ve just got to get the result,’’ Godden said.

“I’m happy with the way we’re defending.

“Last year we conceded some big scores and you just can’t win finals playing that way. We conceded our first goal after half-time today … we are definitely defending harder.”

Heavy rain began falling almost as the game commenced and the match predictably became a scrap. It came down to a battle of who took their chances and it was the Eagles who had more polish and the most dangerous forward in Wundke.