PORT Melbourne has held off a tough and rugged South Adelaide by 22 points at the MCG on Saturday to move through to the semi-finals of the Foxtel Cup.

Shaking off a strong challenge from the Panthers, the premier side in the VFL won 12.6 (78) to 8.8 (56).

WAFL side Claremont, one of the favourites to take out this year’s title, awaits the Borough in the next round.

Sam Dwyer (26 disposals and two goals) and Toby Pinwill (25) were both prolific for Port Melbourne, sparking their team through the midfield with an unrelenting attack on the footy.

Adrian Bonaddio (two goals) was also important, using his strength to out-position opponents.

For South Adelaide, forward Peter Rolfe (four goals) was a constant threat and his finishing skills around goal were a key feature.

Rolfe's goal tally included two terrific goals where he used his strength to break through a couple of tackles and had enough composure to finish.

Port Melbourne held a slim 11-point lead at three-quarter time, unable to establish its dominance early.

But the Borough's experience and poise under pressure came to fore in the final term, as they closed out the game with little fuss.

Hugh Sandilands and Dwyer put the contest out of the reach of the Panthers with back-to-back goals.

Tom Langford, who kicked a remarkable goal tucked up on the boundary in the final minute, sealed the Borough's victory.

PORT MELBOURNE     1.4    4.5    8.6    12.6   (78)               
SOUTH ADELAIDE       1.2    4.5    6.7     8.8    (56)
 
GOALS
Port Melbourne: Bonaddio 2, Burstin 2, Dwyer 2, Langford 2, Scipione 2, O'Sullivan, Sandilands
South Adelaide: Rolfe 4, O’Shea, Pfeiffer, Stribling, Taylor

BEST
Port Melbourne: Dwyer, Bonaddio, Pinwill, Burstin, Valenti, Sandilands
South Adelaide: Rolfe, Stribling, Cross, Murphy, Gotch, Dowdell
 
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs