SANFL 2006 ROUND 21: NORTH ADELAIDE v SOUTH ADELAIDE

Roosters roll past Panthers

By JEFF CRAWFORD

NORTH Adelaide did enough to enjoy a comfortable win over South Adelaide on Saturday but doesn't appear to be firing on all cylinders.

The Roosters controlled much of the play and were rarely less than four goals ahead all day, but the ever-dangerous Panthers also dominated in patches and were always capable of scoring quickly.

In the centre square and around stoppages, Panthers onballers Jarrad Wright, Scott McGlone and Stephen Kenna, and centreman Rhys Archard were every bit as good as their Roosters counterparts, but were let down by an inefficient forward line.

While the Roosters had a choice of tall targets in Daniel Hargraves (five goals, all in the first half), Nick Gill and Clint Alleway, Panthers big men Nathan Twomey, Craig Parry and Ben Warren were all well held.

Goalsneak Damian Cupido was forced to lead a long way up the ground by Kingsley Walker, who didn't allow his opponent any room to move inside 50m.

It was left to skilful Josh Thewlis, who also spent time on the ball, to become a key target.

But North always had the answers, impressive bursts during the second and third quarters threatening to cause a 10-goal plus blow-out.

It was Chris Ladhams and pacey wingmen Scott Bamford and Leigh Ryswyk, along with a few bursts of speed from Matt Campbell, that sparked the Roosters when it really counted.

In defence, it was the rebound of Josh Coulter, who seems to have regained last year's impressive form, and 100-gamer Daniel Ebert, along with the strong marking of Shane Schubert that shut down the Panthers attack.

The result was a disappointing for South coach Robert Pyman, who knows his side can beat the best in the competition.

But the Panthers can sneak into the five with a decent win over West Adelaide next week, with Glenelg on a bye.

Andrew Jarman's Roosters still appear to lack consistency, allowing South to kick the last four goals of Saturday's game, but there's a sense that his fast-running side is still yet to hit peak form.

Next week's night match against Central District at Hamra Homes (Elizabeth) should show just where the Roosters stand with only two weeks to the finals.

SCORES: North Adelaide 6.2 14.7 18.9 21.15 (141) defeated South Adelaide 3.0 7.1 11.2 16.6 (102).

BEST: North – Ladhams, Bamford, D. Ebert, Coulter; South – Archard, Thewlis, McGlone, Davey.

GOALS: North – Hargraves 5, Gill 4, Gatto, Alleway 3, Ladhams, Younie 2, Wintle, Bamford; South – Thewlis 4, Davey 3, Williams, Parry, Neagle, Kenna, Iljcesen, Cupido, Twomey, Archard, Wright.