Sumner Springs to Life for Tigers

	1st	2nd	3rd	Final	Pts
Glenelg	6.1	7.2	10.5	14.6	90
WWT Eagles	2.3	7.4	10.5	11.9	75

Woodville Oval. Crowd 1,975

By ZAC MILBANK

Glenelg’s Tim Sumner made the most of his late inclusion to propel his side to a hard-fought 15-point win against Woodville-West Torrens at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval.

Called upon to replace Josh Scott, Sumner booted two late goals and ushered another one over the line to ensure the visitors would break their seven-game losing streak at Oval Avenue.

With scores locked away on 10.5 each at the final change, the Eagles and Tigers traded blows to start what proved to be a pulsating fourth quarter.

Inform Tigers midfielder Luke Partington – who finished with a season-high 43 disposals, six tackles and nine clearances – gave his side a three point lead after positioning himself perfectly to crumb front and centre before snapping truly from 20m.

This came after a run of three consecutive behinds from the Eagles, who were able to restore their advantage when Jack Hayes took a juggled contested mark at centre-half forward.

Returning from a knee injury, Hayes then nailed a composed foot pass to fellow forward Nick Moore, who was left alone in the forward pocket.

Moore converted his set shot from 30m on a slight angle to set the visitors a challenge to wrestle back the lead.

Then former Eagle Sumner made his imprint on the encounter by marking a long ball in from Brad Close who kicked a deep ball to his advantage in the pocket.

Sumner swung around on his right foot and snapped truly to give his side a four-point lead.

Bays forward Darcy Bailey then streaked through the corridor before putting a long ball inside 50m for Sumner to run onto, with the former Gold Coast Sun gathering the loose ball and kicking a checkside grubber under pressure from 10m.

Then Sumner placed his body to advantage on the goal line to ensure Close would finish off a nice piece of play from Bailey to win the ball from 45m out.

It was a frantic flurry for the Bays, who skipped out to a commanding 28-point lead early in the first term as Tom Schott loomed as the unlikely dangerman with three early goals.

But the Eagles, who had won their past five in succession, fought back by restricting the visitors to just one goal in the second stanza as they took a surprise two-point lead into the main change.

James Rowe – who finished with four goals – was regularly hitting the scoreboard while Chris Hall, James Boyd and Jordan Foote were finding more of the ball.

But the Tigers continued to fight with best afield Partington receiving vital support from Andrew Bradley, Matt Snook and Brad Agnew through the centre square.

LEADING DISPOSALS –

Glenelg: Partington 43, Bradley, Snook 26, Agnew, Curran 23, Chalmers, Close, Motlop 20, McCarthy, Uebergang 18.

Eagles: Hall 30, Boyd, Foote 26, Lonergan 24, Poole, Sharrad 17.

GOALS –

Glenelg: Schott 3, Close, McBean, Partington, Sumner 2, Agnew, Bradley, Reynolds.

Eagles: Rowe 4, Boyd, Comitogianni, J. Gaffney, Guilhaus, N. Hayes, Moore, Petrenko.

BEST

Glenelg: L. Partington, B. Agnew, B. Close, A. Bradley, J. White, M. Snook

Eagles: P. Giuffreda, J. Rowe, J. Foote, C. Hall, J. Von Bertouch, J. Boyd

MAGAREY MEDAL VOTES -

3. Partington (G)

2. Bradley (G)

1. Boyd (E)