An ugly finish has marred a 4-2 loss for the Adelaide Adrenaline against the Newcastle Northstars as tempers flared in the final period.

The result leaves Adelaide in seventh place with nine points from eight games ahead of a trip to Perth next weekend.

The game was also a milestone match for alternate Captain Zach Boyle, who played his 100th - a number which he never really kept track.

“I just take it game by game and treat every game the same,” Boyle said.

“I think it’s a lot of fun [playing alongside childhood heroes]. You learn off a lot of the guys growing up and then get to play with them; it feels good.”

Goalie Sebastian Andersson was at his best in the early stages as Newcastle rattled off shot after shot, while Steve Best put his body on the line with a diving stop against Nick Rivait.

With Rivait showing his displeasure after by tripping Best as he got up, the signs of frustration were already hinting at a physical clash.

Best responded perfectly, however, scoring the game’s opening goal at 5.59 following great build up play by Ales Kratoska and Caleb Apperson. The duo led a charge down the left wing, lured Dayne Davis off his line, before the puck landed in the lap of Best who notched his ninth point in eight games.

A late flurry of goals turned the tide against Adelaide unfortunately with Zane Jones muscling his way through Adelaide’s defence to tie things up at 1.15 before Patrick Nadin tapped the go-ahead goal in just 24 seconds later.

The goal scoring spree continued in the third when Jones had his second goal just 40 seconds in after taking possession in their attacking corner and weaving his way through to goal.

With Adelaide searching for a way to get back into the game Remy McGuiness put together some individual brilliance by splitting the Northstars’ defence with speed and smooth puck control.

Unfortunately Davis won their battle of wits with a deflection.

McGuiness also clashed with Rob Haselhurst to start an action packed third period with the pair both penalised for roughing.

As the play heated up, Boyle kept a calm head, reflecting the maturity that comes with leadership and captaincy.

“Being a leader makes you step up and be mature and not just lead off the ice but on the ice as well,” he said.

“I just take it one shift at a time and try not to get involved with any of it. I just do what I gotta do.”

A pair of quick fire goals saw the game go to the next level as Rivait put Newcastle up by three at 12.33 before Joey Rezek pegged them back at 11.07, infusing Adelaide with hope.

Flying off the bench, Alex Adams set up the goal by taking possession at the blue line. Pushing forward he found Kratoska who quickly tipped the puck to a dazzling Rezek who was never going to miss up close.

As time ticked by the clash turned ugly with Andrew Stapleton and Ales Kratoska finding themselves on the wrong end of big checks.

Stapleton suffered a likely concussion after he was flattened into the wall by Matthew Lindsay with the Northstar called for boarding.

One minute later Kratoska received an ugly crosscheck to the head as Adelaide threatened to make it a one-goal game, yet the drama was saved for the moments after the hit.

With Jones miming a hacking motion in the ensuing arguments, Rezek was penalised for his verbal retaliation and fans were on their feet before Sam Lawson was finally sent to the box for the initial call on Kratoska.

Kratoska was unlucky to hit the post in the final minute as Adelaide searched for a way to keep the game alive, but it was all over as they failed to recover from the quickfire goals at the end of the second.

The focus is already on next weekend for some with Boyle ready to start with a clean slate for their doubleheader in Perth.

“We’re going into the weekend and will take it a game at a time but want to get the six points out of it,” Boyle said.

“The boys are feeling pretty sore and aren’t that happy with the result today. We definitely got outworked today and shot ourselves in the foot with some of it.”

before the AIHL All-Star Weekend hits Adelaide on June 2 and 3. Tickets are available at https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=304707&.

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