Sport
6 August, 2024
Leech and Rodda combine for 12 goals in Lions’ victory
HARCOURT 18.16 (124) def TRENTHAM 11.5 (71)
Harcourt’s forward line mix came to the fore in their 53-point victory over Trentham at Harcourt Recreation Reserve.
The Lions were very much up for the challenge of making a statement that they were very much in the premiership race, and are clicking into gear at the right time.
A first quarter which yielded 10 scoring shots to two was exactly what Harcourt would have wanted, but their inaccuracy kept the Saints in the game, with the Lions kicking three goals, while the Saints managed two.
The second quarter was perhaps the closest of the day, with the Saints keeping themselves in touch thanks to three straight goals, and five goals without a miss, but it was still Harcourt who had the ascendancy thanks to four goals from eight scoring shots to lead by 23 points at the main break.
Harcourt started to clear away in the third term, and they were able to dictate the pace of play by kicking four goals to two to make it a 36-point ball game by the last change.
Last time these two teams met, the Lions were able to storm home in the last quarter to turn a 39-point deficit into a two-point victory, and were again determined to finish full of running.
Harcourt repeated the dose with their best quarter of the day, scoring seven goals to four in a high-scoring final term to make it 53 points by the final siren, and showed that they are still very much in the frame to make it a hat-trick of premierships.
It was the combination of Ben Leech and Jed Rodda up forward that provided plenty of grunt for the Lions, with Leech finishing with seven goals and Rodda providing five of his own to move past 50 for the season.
Patrick Gretgrix was named Harcourt’s best, with Lachlan Mitchell, Cameron Anderson in his 50th game for the club, Leech, Tom Walters and coach Carl Thiesz also in the best players.
For Trentham, Bryce Hinneberg, Sam Kelly, Joel Cowan, Zach Gervasoni, Jake Keogh and Joel Dovaston continued their good run of form, with Keogh leading the way with four goals.