Sport
30 June, 2026
Trentham powers past Lexton in the second half
A sensational seven goals to one third quarter allowed Trentham to finally overwhelm Lexton and accelerate towards a 68-point round 11 victory.
Despite leading by 20 points at half time, the reigning premiers were left frustrated by a quarrelsome Tigers throughout the first half as the contest looked poised to go down to the wire.
That notion suddenly changed early in the second half, as former Huntly player Jacob Greenwood slotted in seamlessly alongside Joel Cowan and Joel Dovaston on debut in Trentham’s stacked midfield that began to take control.
Saints superstar Jake Keogh was the main beneficiary of the exceptional service from the midfield, finishing with five goals as Trentham eventually generated a commanding margin that they never relinquished.
After the visiting Tigers got off to a dream start with Justin Hobson kicking the game’s first goal in under a minute, Trentham threatened to put the game away early as goals from James Regan, Keogh and Joel Dovaston gifted the hosts a two-goal cushion after 10 minutes.
The defending champions continued to look menacing in transition, but a combination of uncharacteristic disposal mistakes and Lexton’s defensive game plan halted the Saints’ star-studded attack.
After Lexton’s Jaxon Thomas and Trentham’s Greenwood traded goals to end the opening term, the reigning premiers were keen to extend their 14-point quarter time advantage.
However, with key defender Eric Wilkinson denying Regan easy contested marks and Aiden Broughton defending Keogh and Dovaston when they ventured forward, the Tigers were proving bothersome for Trentham.
Thomas McGregor and Bryce Karslake were also instrumental to Lexton’s back six, restricting the hosts to two goals in the second quarter. Yet the defensive prowess of Michael Hourigan and Taylor Ford ensured the Saints remained 20 points ahead at half time.
The Tigers desperately needed a strong start to reassert their pressure on the hosts, but after starting the second half with a spree of goals, the floodgates finally burst open for the Saints.
Trentham put on a goal-kicking masterclass in front of their home supporters throughout a third term that altered the contest from a potential nail-biter to a blowout, leading by 59 points at the final change.
Assisted by the boots of Thomas, who finished with three goals, the Tigers managed to regain their competitive form in the fourth quarter, but the damage had already been done in the previous term as the Saints cruised to a win that moves them into third in the MCDFNL senior standings.
Keogh’s bag of five was an easy choice for Trentham’s best players, joined by Cowan, Ryder Henchie, Dovaston, Greenwood and Harrison Knight, who was a constant threat down the wing.
Jaykeb Lench was an eternal presence in the marking contest for Lexton, named in their standout performers alongside Broughton, McGregor, Wilkinson, Karslake and Luke Madden.