Sport
8 July, 2025
Maryborough gets Giant win over Harcourt
A dominant first half set the stage for the Maryborough Giants to take a comfortable 72-35 win over the travelling Harcourt, notching their sixth win in a row.
The Giants made two switches entering this match at Hedges Oval, as Ella Hocking returned to the side alongside the debuting Laura McStravick for Macey Parry and Cassidy Miller.
After last appearing for A grade in the Lions’ round five loss to Avoca, Suzie Rinaldi was recalled to the team, replacing attacking midcourter Lauren Peeler.
Similarly to their round 11 win over Campbells Creek, Maryborough got off to a fast start in the opening stages, as Hocking wasted no time reconnecting with fellow mid-courters Christie Chapple and Alisha Hovey.
Despite the best efforts of Carly Chaplin, nothing stopped young gun Lacey Broad in the first quarter, who scored her first 16 shots without missing to guide the Giants to an 11-goal quarter-time lead.
Following her strong showing in her A grade debut the week before, Ash Egbers assisted Broad’s efforts with a goal of her own.
Harcourt shooter Jordan Bagley took some time to settle herself into the match, netting three goals in the opening term.
Even with a double-digit lead after the first 15 minutes, Maryborough didn’t rest on their laurels in the second quarter, with another outstanding term from Broad doubling the margin out to 22 goals by half time.
In a carbon copy of her stellar first quarter performance, Broad scored another 16 shots without a miss while Egbers added one.
While under the durable defence of Riahni Egan and Ruby Saunder, Bagley started to find her groove in the second period, netting five.
Down 34-12 at half time, the Lions seemed reenergised by the break, kicking into a new gear to begin the third quarter.
Stacey Mitchell and Tamara Farr began to drive the ball forward, while Rinaldi and Bagley showcased some great chemistry, connecting on several entry passes as Bagley was coming toward the ball.
Bagley made the most of her extended chances, converting 10 of her 11 shots to limit the deficit to 26 goals at the final break.
Morgan Yarwood put in a great shift defensively for Harcourt, unfortunately not collecting intercepts on several passes to Broad, who often plucked balls out of Yarwood’s grasp on her way to adding another 16 goals in the third term.
After being subbed into the goal circle for Egbers, McStravick managed to score two goals in the third period.
With a highly competitive third quarter, a 20-goal final term from Maryborough ensured a strong victory for the Giants, finishing 37 goals ahead of the Lions.
Eighteen goals in the last 15 minutes allowed Broad to finish with 66 goals while only missing four shots for the entire match.
McStravick and Egbers shared time in the goal circle in the fourth period, with McStravick netting four and Egbers adding two.
Bagley finished as the Lions’ top-scorer with 23 goals following five goals in the last period.