Sport
3 June, 2025
Nine-goal margin sees Saints fly high
A 17-goal offensive surge in the final quarter has powered Trentham to fly away from Harcourt to record back-to-back victories.
With both teams determined to stake their claim as finals contenders, the Saints and Lions gave it their all at Harcourt Recreation Reserve, producing an entertaining back-and-forth affair that could have gone either way.
The game started off hot as both sides couldn’t be separated in the early stages, with the scoreboard reading 11-11 at quarter time.
The Saints’ Sharna Ford was the top scorer in the opening term, scoring eight while Hayley Bourke added three.
With the often reliable Lauren Peeler needing to find her rhythm early, Gemma Papadimos stepped up for the Lions, going a perfect seven for seven in the first term.
The second quarter proved as tight as the first, with some high-quality netball being played. At the end of the first half, it was Harcourt who held the smallest of margins, leading 21-20.
After being unavailable in Trentham’s win against Campbells Creek, Kasey Button wasted no time making an impact coming off the bench, scoring seven goals from eight shots. Her teammate Ford added two.
Even with some first-quarter cobwebs, Peeler shook into a groove in the second quarter, netting all three of her attempts to compliment Papadimos’ scoring seven.
Intensely the pressure built up on the court when play resumed for the second half, as the Saints started to outplay the Lions in the midcourt.
After some shooting struggles in the second quarter, Ford made a big impact at centre in the third, linking well with Brooke Healy to help Trentham gain a two-goal lead at the final break.
With Ford moved to the midcourt, Button and Bourke were tasked with shooting, they delivered with Button netting six and Bourke converting five.
With their backs against the wall, Peeler and Papadimos were nothing short of perfection in the third, combining to convert all eight of their attempts to keep the Lions nipping at the Saints heels.
Looking for a potential game-changer, both teams shuffled their midcourt while Harcourt moved Jordan Bagley into a shooting position for Peeler and put Carly Chaplin as goal keeper.
Harcourt fought hard, but Trentham dug deep, overrunning the Lions late to secure a vital nine-goal victory.
Bourke and Button were the killer B’s the Saints needed to get over the line, only missing one shot each as Bourke scored 10 and Button made seven.
Even in defeat, Papadimos placed a strong claim for best on court, making all three of her shots in the final quarter to score 20 goals for the match from only 21 attempts.
Bagley also played well when moved into shooter, scoring seven.