Sport
5 August, 2025
Campbells Creek claim back-to-back victories
Campbells Creek has earned back-to-back wins on their home court, but they had to work hard to get it, eventually pulling away from a valiant Maldon in the fourth quarter to win by 11 goals.
Even with both teams eliminated from finals contention, the Magpies and Bombers put on a great showing at Campbells Creek Recreation Reserve, an encouraging sign for greater things to come next season.
The addition of midcourter Ella Cochrane was the only change for Campbells Creek, who were fresh off their strong win over Harcourt the week prior.
Despite their disheartening loss to Lexton, Maldon were encouraged by the return of midcourter Claire Kelly, who, alongside Sophie’s Bennett and Zammit, got the Bombers’ air attack into full force immediately.
The Magpies responded in kind with offensive strikes of their own, leading to an end-to-end first quarter which finished with the hosts holding a narrow 14-13 advantage.
Campbells Creek’s Jemma Finning and Maldon’s Zammit were the beneficiaries of a fast-paced opening term, both scoring nine goals from their 12 attempts. Finning’s teammate Paige Langley gave the Magpies a slight advantage with her five goals.
Similarly to last week, Magpies player/coach Finning moved herself from shooter to defence to not only halt the opponents early momentum, but also allow super-sub Elouise Jones to make an impact in the second quarter.
Just like last week, the switch paid off as Finning, Lizzy Clarke, Katina Hawken and Mikayla Gellatly stabilised the Magpies defence, allowing the hosts to create some breathing room at half time with a six-goal lead.
Jones was an immediate conundrum for the Maldon defence, scoring 10 goals while Langley added three.
Under the improved coverage of Clarke, Finning and Hawken, Zammit couldn’t maintain her first-quarter pace, scoring three in the second term.
Following the successes of their opponents’ changes, the Bombers made some tactical adjustments of their own to keep their hopes of an elusive win in their grasp.
While those switches, and the play of Emma Webb, Gabrielle Kelly and Alice McManus, had a noticeable impact on the Campbells Creek’s offence, Maldon couldn’t shrink the deficit, entering three-quarter time still down by six goals.
That was due to the shooting of Jones and Langley, who combined to score nine goals for the hosts in the third term.
Looking to deliver the dagger early in the fourth quarter, Campbells Creek went on the attack with their lineup. Finning moved back into the goal circle alongside Jones to close the match, with Taylah Sartori filling Finning’s role in defence.
Aided by the passing of Cochrane and Eillish Cumming, Finning and Jones were electric in the final term, netting 17 goals in the deciding period.
Zammit did her best to respond for the Bombers by converting all six of her shots in the term, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Magpies from sealing another four points.
With 11 goals in the fourth quarter, Jones finished with a game-high 26 goals, helping to give the Magpies the advantage after being brought on in the second quarter.