Monday, 16 December 2024 Super League X-mas blockbuster match features South Adelaide versus Contax. Contax hit their straps last week with a solid win over four consistent quarters which was possibly their best game thus far, by contrast, reigning premiers South Adelaide have been rather inconsistent up to this point so it promises to be a most interesting match up!
From the outset it was evident that tight defence across all positions will feature with both teams reliant on the high feed to their tall shooters. It was goal for goal with Contax keeper Nate Wood having an impact reading the high ball to Souths tall shooter Matt Fowler with stunning aerial taps, deflections and interceptions. Both teams were driving the ball well into attack and onto the circle with well timed leads and use of space. Contax shooting combination of Aiden Kelly and Aaron Farquarson began to find their range and Contax’s well oiled defensive duo of Wood and Caleb Barnden at goal defence were applying intense pressure on the feed to Fowler resulting in South having to reset often before delivering the high ball. However as the quarter drew to a close the impact of Travis Wood at wing defence forced turnover ball and Reece Turtur’s strong, direct attacking play saw South Adelaide edge to a one goal lead as the quarter ended. Nate Wood amassed 8 intercepts, taps, deflections in this quarter! South Adelaide 14, Contax 13.
As the second quarter got underway it was clear that South had altered their attacking strategy. Strong interaction between Turtur, Mark Goreham at wing attack and the little maestro Ryan Norfolk at goal attack by playing space and moving the ball with flat bullet like passes and delaying the aerial focus to Fowler saw them break up Wood’s and Barnden’s stifling circle defence and open up the goal circle to allow the easy feed to Fowler. This saw a fall in the number of intercepts taps and deflections that Nate Wood could draw. In addition the defence work of Daniel Moore at keeper, Geoff Zammit goal defence and Travis Wood on the wing saw Contax begin to falter and force error, highlighted by lightning passages of transition into attack by Travis Wood who’s powerful passes set up Turtur and, Goreham was having a field day finding space with ease. His combination with Ryan Norfolk was a key factor in setting up scoring options and drawing Contax circle defenders out of position. Daniel Moore’s tight in front defence saw him intercept and turnover several Contax attacks aided by Zammits strong transition leads into attack. It was clearly South Adelaide’s quarter, despite several positional changes that didn’t stop South’s run of goals. South won the quarter 19 goals to Contax 6 with the half time scores: South Adelaide 33, Contax 19.
The third quarter continued with South's defensive trio forcing Contax errors and slowing their attack. Reece Turtur’s play at centre went up a notch or two and his precision passing, his strong drives into attacking space and his play making for Goreham and Norfolk was beautiful to watch. Contax hung in there and there were passages of great attacking and defence but South’ relentless pressure saw them win this quarter by 5 goals , 16 to Contax 11. Three quarter scores were: South Adelaide 49, Contax 30.
The final quarter continued in much the same vain. South’s defensive pressure was forcing error, their attack end drawing Contax defence off of Fowler as they ball hunted, and South’s attack third working like a well oiled Mercedes Benz. However Contax found ways to hit their goal circle with Matt Mojare and Aaron Farquarson providing scoring options. In what was a close final quarter score wise, South Adelaide 16 to Contax 13, Contax were left to rue a wayward second quarter that undermined their challenge to the reigning premiers. Final Scores: South Adelaide 65, Contax 43.
Netball is a sport that highlights the family and there isn’t a better example of this than the Norfolk family. Mark and Kerry Norfolk are the proud parents of South Adelaide’s young gun Ryan Norfolk. Mum Kerry started playing netball as a 12 year old youngster as well a representative involvement in Indoor Netball. Dad Mark played competitive men’s netball in the days when the men’s competition was held at Para Hills and we reckon we might have played against each other as it was sometime ago! However it was netball that brought these two together and now they are the proud parents of six children all of whom are netballers. In fact they have on occasions fielded a complete team of Norfolk’s in netball and basketball. Ryan commenced playing as a young 5 year old at Parafield Gardens Rec Centre. He then transitioned to SAMMNA’s junior M league as a 14 year old and then to the M league with the big boys. Mum and Dad have clocked up endless mileage in transporting their children to various venues and match days. Currently Ryan is in the State Indoor Open Men’s team, having represented SAMMNA at under 17’s and this year in the 23’s at the Brisbane nationals. Ryan was a surprising omission in the Futures Cup competition against the Victorian 17’s and 20’s squad earlier this year! His younger brother Deacon is playing in the SAMMNA’s Under 17’s this year. In what is truly a wonderful example of family cohesion and commitment, the netballing Norfolk family epitomise the great qualities that a team sport like netball can foster. Congratulations Kerry and Mark!
In a match that highlighted a number of outstanding performances for South Adelaide, Travis Wood was brilliant at wing defence as were circle defenders Daniel Moore and Geoff Zammit, Mark Goreham and Ryan Norfolk were creative playmakers for four quarters but it was the precision, the finesse and the exemplary attacking game of Reece Turtur that earned him player of the match.
It’s rather inappropriate to call Reece an old timer of men’s netball as he has been around for some time and hung in there as men’s netball went through highs and lows and some troubled times! Reece has always been a netball aficionado, a fan of the now defunct women’s Commonwealth Bank Cup competition as a youngster, and he transferred his basketball skills to the netball court. A key player in the formation of the Southern Dragons in 2015, Reece broke his leg in 2016. After rehab he returned SAMMNA’s reserve Men’s team in 2017 where he locked into the niche centre position having previously been a goaler. In 2018 he was in the State Open team and the following year he captained this team. Following the COVID interruption, and intent on winding down his commitments, in 2022 in the Adelaide nationals Reece played reserves and retired from State representation at the end of 2023. He is currently giving back to the sport in a big way. Reece is co-coach of South Adelaide’s Premier League with the iconic Jackie Blythe and they were minor premiers and runners up recently. Reece also was a premiership coach of Oakdale’s 2022 League reserves. From 2017-21 he was Head Coach of Gawler Central in the Barossa League where he has some premierships under the belt. Reece is a player who reads the game beautifully, displays much finesse and calm confidence and skills of the highest order. In what has been a wonderful career it is very apparent that Reece still has wherewithal to mix it with the best! A wonderful game tonight!
