PORT Adelaide was inflicted its seventh loss of the season after being beaten by a more clinical Sturt by 22 points points at Alberton Oval on Sunday.

The Magpies produced a strong final quarter to reduce a 43-point margin, but were outplayed in the first three by the top-of-the-table Double Blues.

In a break-out game for Sturt forward Mark Evans, who kicked six goals, Sturt had more poise when in attack and Port’s usual ball winners just couldn’t get their hands on the football. It was goal-for-goal early in the first quarter, but the last five minutes belonged to the visitors as they booted three unanswered goals.

From then on, the match was controlled by Sturt and its seamless transition from defence into attack.

Port’s failure to hit targets going forward allowed Sturt to capitalise on the counter attack and the home side had no answer for the Double Blue’s speedy ball movement.

In a positive for Port Adelaide, Brendon Ah Chee was strong and could push for AFL selection next week, ending the day with 23 disposals, nine clearances, four marks and six tackles.

The Magpies travel to Noarlunga on Saturday June 18 to play South Adelaide.

First Quarter
In sunny conditions at Alberton Oval, Port Adelaide was let down from the first bounce by its skill and composure.

The Double Blues’ first three goals came after Magpies’ mistakes transitioning out of defence. Despite the dry conditions Port Adelaide were rushing their ball movement and kicks were either not hitting a teammate or falling straight into the hands of a Sturt player.

The lack of poise hurt Port, with Sturt’s forwards capitalising on their midfielder’s composed ball use and hard running at the other end.

The Magpies had no answer for Sturt’s Mark Evans who ran riot up forward for the visitors early, booting three first-quarter goals.

Aidyn Johnson and Louis Sharrad were Port’s only goal scorers, as Sturt ended the quarter with seven majors and the Magpies trailed by 32 points at quarter time.


Second Quarter
Mark Evans continued to star up-forward for the Double Blues, booting their first for the second term, and extending the lead to 33-points.

But, led by skipper Steve Summerton and Jimmy Toumpas who worked hard to win the ball on ground level at stoppages, the Magpies quickly responded.

Goals to Luke Reynolds and newly elevated contracted player Ciaran Hollingworth-Hughes lifted Port Adelaide.

The Magpies then threatened again, but mistakes inside 50 coupled with inaccuracy in front of goals proved an issue and Sturt’s backs - Fraser Evans and Tom Harms – mopped up the lose ball and had plenty of lose men to choose from down the ground.

Despite both sides booting three goals each in the second term, the half-time margin of 37-points would’ve been larger if Sturt’s forwards weren’t inaccurate, as they booted six points.


Third Quarter
Goals were hard to come by, with only one scored by each side for the term.

Despite the scoreboard reflecting otherwise with the big first-half lead Sturt managed, the quarter belonged to Port.

The Magpies were not rewarded for their effort with the ball spending a heap of time in their forward-half.

Sturt’s defence held up and the Magpies just could not find an option or take clean possession inside 50.

A big pack mark to John Butcher breathed some life into the Magpies and reduced the margin to 30-points.

But Evans’ sixth goal with 18 minutes gone undid the hard work from Jesse Palmer, Summerton and Brendon Ah Chee who were working relentlessly at the stoppages and by the end of the quarter had combined for 13 clearances.

Fourth Quarter
The first goal for the final term came early for Sturt when Aidan Riley received a free kick inside 50 after a high tackle.

What followed Riley’s goal, however, was plenty of missed opportunities upforward from Port. Tom Gray missed two goals, while Jonathon Ross and Brendan Ah Chee also failed in their attempts.

Ah Chee was finally rewarded for his relentless forward line pressure with a goal 13 minutes into the term.

Port Adelaide won the quarter, booting three goals to one after majors to Frampton and Toumpas.

But the Doubles Blues had secured the win with their superior first-half.

Scoreboard


Port Adelaide   2.2   5.3      6.5       9.10 (64)
Sturt                 7.4   10.10  11.12  12.14 (86)

Goals 
Reynolds 2, Johnson, Sharrad, Hollingworth-Hughes, Butcher, Ah Chee, Frampton, Toumpas

Portadelaidefc.com.au’s best
Ah Chee, Summerton, Toumpas, Frampton, Amon

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2,510 at Alberton

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