Sport
6 May, 2025
Giants hit the court running with 19-goal win
The Maryborough Giants have bounced back from their narrow loss to Carisbrook last week, defeating Trentham 52-33 after a giant third quarter performance.
The Giants had the upper hand in the early stages of the match, but the Saints worked hard to keep in sight of the Giants, trailing 13-7 after the first quarter.
Lacey Broad caused problems for the Trentham defence immediately, scoring 12 goals while Annalyse Carroll added one.
With the Giants’ midcourt and defenders Ruby Saunder and Julie Anderson applying constant pressure from the off, goalscoring trio Sharna Ford, Kasey Button and Hayley Bourke needed to make the most of their chances and they did, scoring seven from nine attempts.
Defence was the name of the game in the second quarter, but the Giants still managed to extend their advantage to nine after a low-scoring 9-6 second term.
Trentham goal keeper Jessica Walker did well to limit Broad’s impact on the second quarter to seven goals with assistance from her midcourt, while Carrol made two goals.
Ford and Bourke scored three goals each for the Saints in the second.
With the Saints still hovering just behind the Giants at the main break, the visitors pulled away in the third quarter, showcasing their dominant potential with a 15-6 third term.
The Giants’ attack clicked into motion after a slow second quarter, with Broad scoring 11 from 12 attempts and Carrol finding her rhythm with four goals from five shots.
The Giants also restricted Trentham’s chances of a reply, allowing only 10 shots on their goal in the third, with Button netting four and Ford making two.
The Saints fought hard late to generate some positive passages of play, but the Giants were too good, grabbing a 19-goal victory following an entertaining 15-14 final quarter.
Some brilliant passing from the Trentham midcourt to bypass the Giants’ defence allowed Button and Bourke to score seven goals each, with Bourke converting all of her shots into makes.
Broad continued her sparkling form into the final term, adding another 14 to finish with 44 for the game, while Saunder chipped in with a goal in the last quarter.