Sport
27 May, 2025
Seven in a row for Carisbrook as Harcourt thumped
The wins keep rolling in for Carisbrook, with a strong start against Harcourt leading them to their seventh consecutive victory by 32 goals.
The contest started as a defensive masterclass, with both teams allowing only one goal in the first three minutes of play.
However, as the first quarter played out, Carisbrook started to assert control, going on multiple runs midway through the term to build a nine-point gap at the first break.
While Abbey Nalder led the scoring for the Redbacks with 10 goals, Jordan McClure was more valuable in the first term making all six of her attempts.
Lauren Peeler led the way for the Lions with five goals while shooting partner Gemma Papadimos added two.
Both teams made changes at quarter time, with Harcourt’s Stacey Mitchell and Ella Rule swapping their centre and wing attack roles and Carisbrook swapped Maggie Tranter and Paige McLean for Ella Patten and Katie Bilton.
The fresh Patten and Bilton in the midcourt paid instant dividends for the Redbacks, ferociously counter-attacking to extend their advantage to 19 at half time.
McClure’s precise accuracy under the net continued in the second term, netting six from seven attempts and Nalder once again top-scored with eight.
Peeler and Papadimos did everything they could for the Lions, scoring all four of their combined attempts at goal.
Not content with their noticeable lead, the Redbacks continued to tinker to start the second half, with Tranter and McLean deputising for Nalder and reigning Nalder Tracey trophy winner Laura Hurse.
Those changes certainly helped Carisbrook offensively, with 13 goals for McClure and eight from McLean from nine shots allowing the Redbacks to effectively secure the four points with a 31-goal lead with 15 minutes to play.
The Lions midcourt improved in the second half, providing more chances for Peeler and Papadimos, with the pair scoring five and four respectively.
Similarly to their defeat to Navarre, the Lions galvanised in the last quarter, fighting until the end with the term finishing 12-11 in favour of the Redbacks.
Another silver lining for Harcourt was the shooting of Peeler and Papadimos in the last period, with Papadimos netting six and Peeler making five with one miss each.
Nalder returned in the final quarter in the place of McClure to score nine goals in the term while McLean added three.