Australian Football

Match Report

First up, it was Friday night mayhem of the highest caliber at The Parade, as Coopers Stadium switched on for the first match of the two Williams-Gallagher Cup battles between Norwood and Port Adelaide. The oldest SA football rivalry which dated back to the late 19th century, these two teams share over 60 premierships and many a Grand Final match-up including the infamous 1984 contest where Norwood won the flag after starting the finals in the Elimination Final. Port would again be stung by the Redlegs in 1997, but turned the tables in 1999 in their last premiership victory.

Over 7,500 people turned up for this decades old war, Norwood needed a confidence boost after a draw last week with the Panthers and Port were coming off a win themselves. 

An evenly contested first term ensued, with Norwood taking a lead of two points after a low scoring first term, 2.4 to Port's 2.2. Norwood turned it on in the second term, albeit quite inaccurate as they booted 6.6 to the Magpies 2.3 to stretch out the lead to 29 points by the long break. Unfortunately for the Magpies, injuries to key personnel saw them with an empty interchange bench by that time. They did however, rally in the third quarter as they drew the margin back to two goals after kicking 5.2 to the Redlegs' 2.2. But the home side wouldn't let them get any closer, keeping the Magpies to just a single goal whilst kicking 2.4 for themselves to bag a 22-point victory. 

Matthew Dawes was named best for the Redlegs, whilst Kristian DePasquale was voted best afield for Port.