Sport
22 August, 2022
Rovers denied finals shot
MARYBOROUGH ROVERS (35) def by LEXTON (59) Rovers’ finals chances were ended on Saturday by a determined Lexton team, who ultimately just missed out on the top four and will have to plot out their finals path via the elimination final. Perhaps the...
MARYBOROUGH ROVERS (35) def by LEXTON (59)
Rovers’ finals chances were ended on Saturday by a determined Lexton team, who ultimately just missed out on the top four and will have to plot out their finals path via the elimination final.
Perhaps the most remarkable statistic from Saturday afternoon’s game was the fact that the scoreline was an exact replica of the two teams’ round three meeting — with Lexton also winning 59-35 on that occasion.
However, there was much more on the line in this meeting at Princes Park. Lexton needed a big win to earn the double chance, while Rovers, as it transpired, needed a win by any margin to advance to the finals, courtesy of Newstead’s 47-goal loss to Harcourt.
A tightly contested opening quarter saw the Tigers take a narrow four-goal lead, scoring 13 goals to nine for the period.
They then started to make their move in the second quarter, scoring 11 goals while restricting Rovers to just seven goals, ensuring they would lead 24-16 at the main break.
With everything on the line, the Tigers again bossed territory in the third quarter, and effectively snuffed out Rovers’ finals chances with 17 goals to nine to take a 41-25 lead at the final change.
Eighteen goals to 10 in the final quarter saw Lexton eventually run out 24-goal winners.
Lexton will now play Newstead in next week’s elimination final, having missed out on the double chance by just under eight percent from Harcourt.
The best players were not provided before print deadline.
A player not named in the system led the way for Rovers, scoring 15 goals, while Leesa Donhardt led the way for Lexton, scoring 32 goals, with Rachel Phelan scoring 27.