Bays Break the Blues

Glenelg forward Cory Gregson lays a flying tackle on Sturt defender Jack Stephens.

	1st	2nd	3rd	Final	Pts
Glenelg	2.4	6.5	10.9	11.13	79
Sturt	4.2	7.3	8.5	10.10	70

Glenelg Oval. Crowd 4,248

By ZAC MILBANK

Glenelg was desperate to be on the right end of a close one.

Just six days after wasting a host of opportunities to pinch an amazing come-from-behind win against South Adelaide, the Bays showed gritty determination to hold off a fast-finishing Sturt outfit by nine points at ACH Group Stadium on Good Friday.

With every one of the Tigers’ 21 playing their part, the hosts had built what looked to be a match-defining 16-point lead at the final change.

In the space of three minutes deep into time-on of the third quarter, Glenelg had banged on three goals in succession, livewire forward Lachie Hosie booting two of his four for the night and classy Marlon Motlop nailing one on the run after winning the centre clearance.

But the momentum Glenelg built was suddenly snuffed out when Sturt responded early in the final term, with Ken Farmer Medallist Mark Evans putting the Double Blues within two points after kicking two of his three goals in succession.

Just as it appeared the Double Blues would roll on with the win, the Tigers dug deep, ran out the game strongly through the midfield and provided late opportunities for their forwards.

After playing his role in the dramatic comeback last round, Glenelg forward Luke Reynolds was at it again, this time snapping from tight on the boundary line only to have his potential Goal of the Week contender touched on the line by a valiant Steven Slimming.

But Reynolds wasn’t to be denied two minutes later, positioning himself beautifully at the fall of the ball to crumb and snap truly from straight in front for the sealing goal much to the delight of the Tiger faithful on Snouts Hill.

Bays captain Chris Curran was again outstanding in defence to be one of many players putting his hand up for inclusion in the best players list, while Jonty Scharenberg and Marlon Motlop were particularly constructive through the midfield, the latter using his pace to positive effect.

Hosie was the most dangerous forward on the ground with his seven shots on goal yielding 4.3 to go with his 17 disposals and six marks.

The Double Blues enjoyed yet another masterclass from captain Zane Kirkwood, who in the past fortnight has returned to his brilliant Magarey Medal-winning best.

The Fos Williams Medallist had a game high 36 disposals as he displayed his tremendous work ethic to get to an endless amount of contests while distributing the ball with precision by foot.

James Battersby also worked tirelessly for the visitors to finish with 28 touches while defenders Sam Colquhoun, Fraser Evans and Jack Stephens set up countless opportunities from the back half.

The Double Blues will now get an nine-day break until they host South at Peter Motley Oval in Round 5, contrasting the Bays’ brief build up to facing West Adelaide next Wednesday night at City Mazda Stadium.

LEADING DISPOSALS –

Glenelg: Scharenberg 25, Partington 22, Curran, Nicholson 21, Motlop 20, McCarthy 19, Betterman, Bradley, Gregson 18, Chalmers, Hosie 17.

Sturt: Kirkwood 36, Colquhoun 30, Battersby 28, F. Evans 26, Stephens 25, Crocker, Pearce 22, Carey 20, Sumner 18.

GOALS –

Glenelg: Hosie 4, Motlop 2, McBean, McCarthy, Reynolds, Scharenberg, White.

Sturt: M. Evans 3, Condon 2, Dodd, Pearce, Riley, Slimming, Sutcliffe.

BEST -

Glenelg: C. Curran, B. Close, C. Nicholson, L. Hosie, A. Bradley

Sturt: Z. Kirkwood, M. Crocker, J. Stephens, S. Colquhoun, B. Sumner, S. Slimming

MAGAREY MEDAL VOTES -

3. Kirkwood (S)

2. Scharenberg (G)

1. Hosie (G)