Sport
4 August, 2026
Natte too good for Trentham in 50-goal victory
Following a string of nail-biting matches, Natte Bealiba returned to their dominant best at Trentham Reserve with a 50-goal victory over the Saints.
Young gun Chelsea Ross shook off an uncommonly inaccurate performance against Carisbrook to give the Swans a commanding half time lead, which fellow shooter Sian Mortlock solidified with a terrific 49-goal performance.
Things weren’t smooth sailing for Natte Bealiba in the first quarter, as Trentham tested the premiership contenders early despite being without superstar defender Jessica Walker.
While the versatile Stevie Courtney filled Walker’s place at goal keeper alongside Madelyn Keeping, midcourters Charli Copeland and Amy Vandenham ensured the Saints attack was firing on all cylinders early.
Fresh off her outstanding A grade introduction a fortnight ago, C grade leading scorer Keisha Shearer showcased her excellent scoring touch with the assistance of Sharna Ford as the Saints scored 13 goals in the first quarter.
However, the shooting prowess of Chelsea Ross and Sian Mortlock gave Natte Bealiba a five-goal lead at quarter time.
After the elite defensive tandem of Ellie Martin and Naomi Medlyn forced several quick turnovers, the Swans suddenly changed the game’s complexion from a tense high-scoring affair to a blowout.
With Ebony Raven, Chloe Ross, Darci Rodgers and Ella Tranter all sharing time in the midcourt, Trentham found themselves powerless to stop Natte from constantly firing the netball into their defensive third.
Once the Swans advanced into attacking areas, Chelsea Ross and Sian Mortlock were like sharks smelling blood in the water, hunting to maximise any goal-scoring opportunity provided by Raven and Tranter’s entry passes.
Courtesy of their 23-goal second quarter, Natte had ballooned their once narrow lead to 23 goals by half time.
Hoping for a return to form following a devastating end to the first half, the Saints switched Courtney and Keeping’s defensive positions, shifted Madelyne Brennan and Macey Holmes into the midcourt and introduced Bonnie Hodgson into a shooter role during the third quarter.
Unfortunately for Trentham, those switches didn’t prevent the visitors from transferring their outstanding second term into the third quarter.
Taking the place of her 18 and under teammate at goal shooter following the half time break, Eve Mortlock seemingly caught Chelsea Ross’ contagious shooting form as she immediately found the bottom of the net.
With the Mortlock sisters matching Natte’s second quarter tally in the third term, the visitors held a commanding 39-goal lead at three-quarter time.
Credit to the Saints, they completed an attacking renaissance in the final quarter orchestrated by Shearer, Ford and Copeland.
Yet it didn’t stop the Swans from ending with a flourish, scoring 23 goals for the third consecutive quarter to complete their 13th victory of the season.
After Chelsea Ross scored 21 goals in the first half, Eve Mortlock netted 17 shots in the second half alongside Sian Mortlock’s season-high 49 goals.
Shearer looks to be a vital player to Trentham’s finals push, scoring 31 goals at an impressive conversion rate of 89 percent. Ford and Copeland added three goals for the Saints.