Sport
3 June, 2025
Trentham reduce Harcourt to back-to-back defeats following 17-point victory
The Trentham Saints have handed the Harcourt Lions their first back-to-back loss for the first time in six years with a hard-fought 17-point victory.
Following their convincing loss to Carisbrook last week, Harcourt were very motivated to rectify their 2024 qualifying loss to the Saints and return to winning ways.
Their wishes weren’t forthcoming immediately, with both teams focusing heavily on containing their opponent’s high-powered offence, resulting in a low-scoring first quarter.
Both teams managed to get one goal each in the first term, with the Saints holding onto a one-point lead at quarter-time.
With the amount of attacking talent both teams possess in their lineups, it would be almost impossible for the Lions and Saints to remain quiet in the second quarter.
Fortunately for the Saints, it was their forward line shouting from the choir.
Captain Joel Dovaston, Alister Ferrier and Thomas Fuller started to control the midfield battle for Trentham, creating chances for forwards James Regan and Cooper Webber-Mirkin as well as themselves.
Trentham scored 22 unanswered points in the second quarter, creating a 23-point advantage heading into the second half.
Harcourt was keen to respond coming out of the half time break, but key defenders Taylor Ford and Sam Kelly were rocks at the back, marshalling a backline which allowed just one point in the third quarter.
The Saints kicked two goals in the third term, extending the margin to 34 points at three quarter time.
While a 34-point lead heading into the final term would be insurmountable for many, Trentham knew they would be foolish to count Harcourt out after the Lions completed a remarkable comeback against the Saints in round four last season after being down by 27 points at three quarter time.
After going six quarters of football kicking one goal, Harcourt showcased the brand of football many have become accustomed to, generating plenty of nerves in the Trentham camp.
The Lions had plenty of oppor-tunities to dish out a cruel taste of deja vu to the Saints, with seven scoring shots to Trentham’s zero.
However, they were uncharac-teristically wasteful with their chances, kicking 2.5 in the final term as Trentham held on to a massive four points.
Taylor Ford was magnificent in defence for the Saints, rightfully named among the best players. He was joined by Ferrier, Mitchell Peeler, Fuller, Dovaston and Tom Boyer.
Star forward Regan and Webber-Mirkin were the only players to kick multiple goals for the game with two goals each.
Harcourt named Mark Noonan, Jack Threlfall, Carl Thiesz, Taylar McKnight, Joshua Hogg and Orin McKay as their best players, with Paul Chaplin, Mitchell McKnight and Tom Stefaniw all kicking a goal.