PORT ADELAIDE has inflicted revenge of sorts on Richmond with a gutsy two-point win at Adelaide Oval in a Friday night blockbuster.

A banged-up Port side held firm under immense pressure to record a 11.13 (79) to 11.11 (77) win in a game which pitted last year’s Preliminary Finalists against each other.

On a cool but clear night in Adelaide, there was a spark in the air as the sides renewed their rivalry.

Zak Butters got Port Adelaide off to the perfect start, winning a free kick after being tackled high and slotting the resulting set shot.

Richmond responded with the next three goals through Kane Lambert, Jack Riewoldt and Shai Bolton as the visitors started to control the ball.

But Port hit back when Steven Motlop goaled from a 25-metre set shot. The mercurial forward had started the play in the centre of the park, chipping it dangerously to Butters, who hit Robbie Gray on the chest inside 50. Motlop continued on to get on the end of it before finishing calmly.

Butters was again in the thick of it with his handpass setting up Xavier Duursma into an open goal.

The Tigers goaled late to take a five-point lead in the first break.

Having had nine first quarter possessions as well as three tackles and a clearances, Butters continued where he left off in the second term, showing his physicality as Port upped its pressure and intensity.

And the home side was rewarded early with the opening two goals of the quarter through Motlop and Rozee.

Motlop’s was a brilliant bit of team play involving Karl Amon pinning Dustin Martin holding the ball, Orazio Fantasia courageously knocking the ball on and taking a big hit, and Motlop finishing it with his second major.

Port dominated possession and territory but the Tigers made them pay when Hamish Hartlett uncharacteristically turned the ball over to Reiwoldt inside 50.

He would have his third major before the half was up after Orazio Fantasia snapped his first.

Port finished with 17 of the las 20 inside 50s but managed five straight behinds to close out the half, failing to make the most of its dominance but able to take a seven-point lead into the main break.

The Tigers turned the tables in the early stages of the second half with Jason Castagna and Tom Lynch booting goals and Port struggling to get the ball past the centre of the field.

Charlie Dixon moved into the ruck briefly and it seemed to spark Port as Dan Houston got the crowd involved with a classy snapped goal.

Suddenly the Tigers were looking jittery and Rozee, nursing a corked thigh, forced a turnover and outpaced an opponent into goal.

When Hamish Hartlett intercepted the ball just outside 50 and booted a long goal, the crowd was on its feet and Port was eleven points up.

Scott Lycett had a chance to extend the lead after the siren to end the third quarter but his shot dropped short and was touched over the line.

With Rozee, Butters and defenders Tom Jonas, Tom Clurey and Aliir Aliir battered and bruised, it was going to need a brave performance for the home side to get over the line.

Butters was forced off with an ankle injury and could only watch as the visitors closed the margin to within a goal as martin replicated Houston’s snap.

Having missed three previous set shots, Mitch Georgiades finally found his range to restore the advantage for Port after a 50 metre penalty that brought him just inside 50.

Duursma marked courageously in front of two Tigers running back with the flight deep in defence as medical substitute Sam Mayes was brought into the game for Butters.

But Richmond kept coming and kept the ball camped in its forward half before Lambert bobbed up to run into an open goal and pinch the lead as the seconds ticked away.

The game took another turn with four minutes to play when Robbie Gray took a miraculous mark under severe pressure and went back calmly and slotted the set shot from 35 metres out on a tight angle.

From there it was an arm wrestle with Ollie Wines and Willem Drew taking important marks and Duursma limping off with a knee injury.

The siren was a moment to savour for the more than supporters 33,000 supporters in attendance as Port got some form of revenge for last year’s Preliminary Final loss.

SCOREBOARD

PORT ADELAIDE            3.3     6.10        9.12     11.13   (79)             

RICHMOND                  4.2      6.3            8.7       11.11  (77)              

Goals

Motlop, Rozee 2, Butters, Duursma, Fantasia, Houston, Hartlett, Georgiades, Gray

Best

Amon, Boak, Houston, Butters, Lycett, Motlop, Aliir, Duursma