Woodville-West Torrens gives North Adelaide a belting at Prospect
IN the end, it was a shock that Woodville-West Torrens only won by 44 points, and didn’t crack the 100-point barrier against North Adelaide.
IN the end, it was a shock that Woodville-West Torrens only won by 44 points, and didn’t crack the 100-point barrier against North Adelaide.
Because in every other way, this was a belting.
The Eagles were too classy and too hungry for an uncompetitive North Adelaide at Prospect on Sunday.
Their skills were too sharp and their discipline to press forward and keep the ball inside their attacking zone was too strong for a Roosters side that simply could not keep up.
The Eagles held North Adelaide goal-less from the 23rd minute of the opening term until the 23rd minute of the last.
North had their scoring chances in the 82 barren minutes between — not enough to win the game, but enough to dodge embarrassment.
But when Michael McMahon broke the drought with his second goal thanks to a courageous mark running back near the behind post late in the final term, the Bronx cheers confirmed the Roosters faithful were embarrassed.
“It’s something we’re looking at, because we’ve been okay in our first quarters but our second and third quarters have been a real struggle for us,” North coach Ken McGregor said.
“Every second and third quarter, we’re getting smashed. We created some opportunities today but couldn’t finish.
“That might be because we’re so down on confidence because we keep losing, but we’re a better team than we’ve shown the last three weeks.”
Sunday’s clash became a one-sided blitz after looking every bit an enthralling shootout in the first quarter.
The Roosters pressured the Eagles brilliantly, eliminating the visitors’ disposal by foot and forcing them into retreating handballs.
North’s “Grog Squad” supporters group, celebrating its 50th anniversary, had reason to cheer when Alex Spina benefited from the Roosters’ high pressure midway through the first quarter to give the home side a six-point break.
Both sides traded goals in an open, flowing exchange. But then quarter-time came. The Eagles took it up a notch and the Roosters went home.
Sam Martyn and Scott Lewis were brilliant for the Eagles, James Boyd linked beautifully on the rebound, Angus Rowntree was a force inside and Aseri Raikiwasa was a tower in defence.
“Satisfied, because we don’t always have a lot of fun here,” Eagles coach Michael Godden said.
“It was a shootout in the first quarter so we had to shut that down, and to keep them goal-less in the second and third quarters was pleasing.
“ It looked ugly, but we did what was instructed.
“We let a few through late, so there’s still a bit in reserve there. We’re happy.”
NORTH ADELAIDE 5.1 5.4 5.7 7.13 (55)
WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS 4.3 8.4 10.9 15.9 (99)
Best —Eagles: Martyn, Lewis, Rowntree, Boyd, Dunstan, Allmond, Hall, Riakiwasa. North: Amato, Motlop, Edwards, Spina, Virgin, Ryswyk.
Goals — Eagles: McGregor 4, Dunstan 3, Lewis 2, Aigner, Allmond, Hayes, Martin, Furlow, Rowntree. North: Amato 2, McMahon 2, Spina 2, Edwards.
Injuries/reports: Nil
Umpires: Philp, Schramm, Hundertmark