Sport
24 June, 2025
Maryborough earns giant 61-47 victory over Lexton
A strong start allowed the Maryborough Giants to keep the dangerous Lexton at arm’s length, taking a potentially pivotal 14-goal victory.
With Navarre’s victory over Carisbrook heating up the race for the last two double-chance positions, the Giants have dealt a huge blow to another top-four contender while maintaining fourth place.
After being unavailable in their win over Talbot, Julie Anderson returned at the heart of the Giants’ defence for Abbey Devereaux and Emmerson Wood.
That, alongside the callup of Macey Parry, allowed Ruby Saunder to move back into the attack to pair with Lacey Broad.
Lexton travelled to Hedges Oval with an unchanged lineup after their impressive victory over Newstead last week.
Keen to maintain their place inside the top four, the Maryborough Giants came out firing in the first quarter, building a 17-11 cushion at quarter time.
Fresh off scoring 56 goals against Talbot, Broad made her presence felt in the opening term with 15 goals while Saunder added two.
After Kristy Hadler scored four goals from five attempts, the Tigers kept the Giants’ defensive duo of Anderson and Riahni Egan on their toes by subbing in Charlize Kennedy halfway through the quarter.
While Kennedy added one, Leesa Donhardt top-scored for Lexton with six goals.
As Lexton’s midcourt led by Caitlin Howell and Ciane Van Dyken was going toe-to-toe with Christie Chapple and Ella Hocking, that early deficit was starting to become a serious issue, as the Giants held an eight-goal lead at half time.
Tigers goal keeper Sarah Griffin was brilliant in the second quarter, constantly all over Broad which forced the Giants to rely on Saunder.
She delivered nine goals from 11 attempts while Broad managed to pry herself from Griffin to score five from five shots.
From one talented youngster to another, Kennedy displayed all her potential with nine goals in the second quarter while Donhardt supported Kennedy with three goals.
After being held relatively quiet in the second quarter, Broad took control of the third quarter with 14 goals, helping the Giants build a 12-goal lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Tigers rotated Hadler and Kennedy alongside Donhardt throughout the third quarter. With Donhardt scoring seven, Hadler netting four and Kennedy adding one.
The Tigers fought hard until the final siren, but just couldn’t make any inroads on their deficit, as the Maryborough Giants put the finishing touches on a 61-47 win.
After being subbed in for Anderson who suffered an injury halfway through the third quarter, Macey Parry paired well with Egan in defence, holding Lexton at bay as Donhardt scored nine and Hadler converted three.
Broad finished with 45 goals for the match after an 11-goal final quarter, while Saunder finished her successful return in attack with three goals in the last term.