South Adelaide have suffered their first loss of the SANFLW League season after North Adelaide kicked three goals to none in the first quarter to set up a six-point win.

Held at the neutral venue of Coopers Stadium to open the SA Power Network Energised Rounds, the Roosters burst out of the blocks, kicking the first three goals inside ten minutes through Aprille Crooks, Keira Copeland and Zara Molloy, accounting for all the early scoring.

It was built off North Adelaide’s ability to get first hands on the footy at stoppages with 11-2 inside 50s, while the Panthers were left to rue their ill-discipline after conceding a 25-metre penalty that led to the second goal.

It took until the eighth minute of the second quarter for South Adelaide to register a score, through an Emma Charlton behind.

Shortly after, however, Olivia Evans provided some hope after intercepting a wayward defensive kick, with Tabitha Prosser cleaning up to set Evans up to put it on her boot, where it fortuitously bounced through for a goal.

The Panthers dominated possession in the first half but failed to translate that into scoreboard pressure, having to chase the game from the very start.

With intermittent rain, the two teams traded goals, as Molloy added her second for the Roosters, while Esther Schirmer pulled her kick inside to Evans, who strongly marked and converted her set shot for her second major. Prosser then had a quick shot from a good look, but the ball dribbled through for a behind.

Despite trailing, the game was set up for South Adelaide to mount a late comeback, and they got the ideal start to the final quarter when Mel Anderson rolled around and delivered to the hot spot. Prosser gathered cleanly to reduce the margin, making up for her earlier miss before three-quarter time.

Anderson herself had a chance on goal but couldn’t finish as the rain intensified, the ball skidding forward in the wet as the game tightened to within a kick.

South Adelaide scrapped away to generate another genuine scoring opportunity, but the plucky Roosters held on long enough to claim the upset win. The conditions played in favour of North Adelaide, their first quarter surge coming before the heaviest rain had set in.

Four of the five top disposal getters in the game were Panthers, Layla Vizgaudis the leader with 23 and six clearances. Charlton performed well in her return to League action, ending the game with 22 disposals, seven clearances and 11 tackles.

Anderson and Schirmer reinforced the pressure effort with 11 tackles each, the trio combining for nearly half of the team’s total of 80.

Samantha Pratt dropped back to complete several crucial intercept possessions, finishing with five marks.

On a disappointing day forward of the ball, Evans was the shining light, her two goals keeping the Panthers in the game. Prosser was the only other goal kicker.

South Adelaide looks onwards to next week, hosting Sturt at Magain Stadium on Sunday, 10^th May (Mother’s Day) at 11:00am.