SANFL 2006 ROUND 20: GLENELG v NORTH ADELAIDE

Tigers pipped in classic

By NICK BOWEN

IT WAS raining goals on a warm winter's day at Glenelg Oval last Saturday (August 19) with North Adelaide and Glenelg piling on 43 goals before the Roosters hit the front with minutes to spare, winning by four points, 21.20 (146) to 22.10 (142)

In an old-fashioned shootout, both sides had periods of dominance and, surprisingly, for such a tight game, the lead changed just three times over the match.

Glenelg jumped out of the blocks at the start of the game and, with early goals to onballer Brett Backwell and forward Matthew Duldig, quickly opened up a three goal lead.

However, the Roosters hit back and with key forwards Daniel Hargraves, Clint Alleway and Ian Perrie starting to fire, went to the main break with a 15 point lead. The Tigers came out snarling at the start of the third quarter – Duldig kicking two goals in two minutes – rattling on seven goals for the quarter, to take an 11-point lead into the last break. At the 20 minute mark of the last quarter Glenelg still clung to an eight point lead, but two goals to Perrie in three minutes – the last after he intercepted an attempted short pass across goals by Justin McConnell – put the Roosters in front for good.

It was a cruel finish for the Tigers, who had led from the 10 minute mark of the third quarter.

After the game, Glenelg coach Mark Mickan was pleased with his side's endeavour but lamented costly errors at crucial stages.

“Before the game we said we wanted to be proud of our effort and I think at the end of the game we can be,” he said.

“But we cost ourselves with some decision-making and some poor execution of skill.”

Mickan said the club could look forward to its clash with Central District with confidence.

“Today showed we are good enough to match it with the best in the competition but we need to be able to produce a bit more poise when we are in possession.”

Best players for the Tigers included Backwell (45 possessions), Duldig (seven goals), Aaron Rogers, Trevor Cranston and Ty Allen.

SCORES: Glenelg 6.3 12.6 19.6 22.10 (142) defeated North Adelaide 6.5 14.9 16.13 21.20 (146).

BEST: North – Alleway, Younie, Perrie, Ladhams; Glenelg – Backwell, Duldig, Rogers.

GOALS: North – Perrie 6, Hargraves, Alleway 5, Howard 2, Younie, Ladhams, M.Campbell; Glenelg – Duldig 7, Backwell 3, Gibbs 2, Ruwoldt, McConnell, Kirkby, Mitchell, Smith, Graham, Moore, Yeomans, Rogers Kirk.