Sport
1 July, 2025
Trentham upset Navarre in stunning performance
The Saints are marching into the finals race.
Trentham has completed arguably the biggest upset of the season so far, defeating Navarre in convincing fashion 52-25 thanks to a magnificent second-half performance.
The Saints were brilliant in defence and attack on their home court. Their 52 goals are the most the Grasshoppers’ top-three defence has conceded since round two against the Maryborough Giants, while their 25 goals are the second-fewest they have conceded in a game this season.
After their impressive victory against Carisbrook last week, Ella Cassidy made her A grade debut this season, included in the squad alongside Darcy Crawford for the absent Hayley Reading and Brianna Hyslop.
As for the Saints, Hayley Bourke returned to the side after not playing in Trentham’s loss to Avoca last week, replacing Sophie Elderfield.
The hosts surprised the visitors immediately with their ball movement in the midcourt, as Bourke and Carly Elderfield kept pace with Navarre’s Sidney Dyer, Sophie Flood and Amber Perry with both teams having 20 shots each in the first quarter.
Trentham’s Sharna Ford and Kasey Button were more efficient than the usually reliable Navarre duo of Erin Jackson and Sophie Flood in the opening term, helping the Saints take a 16-11 advantage into quarter time.
Button was particularly potent for the Saints in the first quarter, leading the way with 11 goals.
Following an offence heavy 15 minutes, the tempo slowed in the second quarter which usually plays into the Grasshoppers’ hands.
However, 2023 Nalder Tracey medal winner Jessica Walker anchored a Saints defence that allowed just five goals in the second quarter, allowing Trentham to extend the margin to 11 goals by half time.
Button maintained her shooting touch into the second period, netting seven shots while Ford made no mistake from her four attempts on goal.
Frank and Jackson tried their best to keep up with the limited chances they had, with the former converting three and the latter adding two.
Looking to turn things around to start the second half, Navarre made a host of chances at the start of the third quarter and continued to tinker throughout the period.
It didn’t faze the Saints, who dominated the third quarter 14-4 to build a near insurmountable 21-goal lead as the game reached three-quarter time.
Ford was the dangerous shooter for the Saints in the third, leading with eight goals while Button remained threatening, converting six.
After having four shooters throughout the quarter, Cassidy scored two after she was subbed in while Jackson and Frank added one each.
Following a stunning second and third-quarter performance, the Saints sailed to victory in the fourth quarter, putting the finishing touches on a memorable 27-goal win which keeps them two points behind eighth-placed Newstead with their bye still to come.
Button finished her extraordinary day in the goal circle with seven goals in the final period to finish with a game-high 31 goals. Not to be outdone, Ford ended with 21 goals from just 25 attempts thanks to four fourth-quarter goals.
Cassidy was Navarre’s leading shooter in the last quarter with four goals while Frank scored one.