RIVALRY AS FIERCE AS EVER

BY PETER CORNWALL

“It doesn’t matter where they are on the premiership table, it will be a tough contest.” “There’s nothing between them.” They are expressions you often hear when Norwood and Port Adelaide square off in a contest, the old rivals always determined to win – and desperate not to lose. And that’s sort of how it worked out this year. The Williams Gallagher Cup was up for grabs again at The Parade in Round 10. Or is it the Gallagher Williams Cup? As you might possibly guess, considering the nature of these clubs’ rivalry, there’s a plaque for the Gallagher Williams Cup on one side of the trophy and for the Williams Gallagher Cup on the other! But, still, you would have thought someone would win it. The Cup, first awarded in 1991 but not having been formally presented in eight years, was back in the spotlight in time for the deciding clash between the fierce rivals this season. Port Adelaide had won the matchup at Alberton Oval in Round 5 by seven points. So if the Magpies could beat the Redlegs at Norwood, they would claim the trophy named in honour of wonderful families synonymous with these clubs. If the win went to Norwood, struggling with just one victory for the season before the big clash, it would come down to the comparative winning margins. So the Redlegs beat Port by seven points!

While there was no true winner of

There was plenty of desperation at The Parade as Port Adelaide’s Jake Weidemann tried to spoil Norwood’s Matthew Nunn’s kick in the Redlegs’ hard-fought win. Weidemann’s last-gasp behind made the final margin seven points, meaning the Gallagher Williams Cup for 2023 ended in a the Cup, Norwood kept hold of it because it had won both clashes between the old foes last season. The rejuvenated Redlegs moved within two wins of the top five after fighting back from a 13-point deficit at the main break, sealing the gutsy win with two goals to one into the wind in the last quarter.

“I thought it was an outstanding win,” Norwood coach Jade Rawlings said. The bonus was keeping the Gallagher Williams Cup – without actually having won it!