Sport
16 June, 2026
Navarre overpower rivals Lexton 63-23
After Lexton knocked them out of last year’s finals series, Navarre delivered a taste of revenge on Saturday, defeating their rivals by a commanding 40 goals.
After relinquishing a quarter-time lead in their 2025 elimination final, the Grasshoppers ensured they wouldn’t repeat the same mistake, doubling their advantage by half time thanks to another eye-catching performance.
The victory extends Navarre’s win streak to eight games, entering this weekend’s blockbuster encounter with Avoca in superb form.
With key defender Sarah Griffin out indefinitely due to injury, Lexton tasked Eliza Bell and Shanae Hepworth with containing Navarre’s deadly shooting tandem of Zanaiya Bergen and Aliza Lockhart.
With their defensive pairing doing a highly commendable job, Lexton produced an encouraging opening term led by centre Caitlin Howell and clinical shooters Charlize Kennedy and Rachel Phelan.
However, the Grasshoppers eventually pulled away as player-coach Sidney Dyer and Brooke Currie delivered pinpoint passes to Bergen and Lockhart in the goal circle.
Even as they possessed an eight-goal lead at quarter time, Navarre showcased a sense of urgency after the interval, hoping to generate an insurmountable lead.
While their offence was noticeably slowed by Hepworth and Bell, the Grasshoppers were effectively shutting down Lexton’s passing lanes, cutting the service to Kennedy and Phelan.
With the Tigers’ talented shooters often isolated from their midcourt, the hosts boosted the margin to a healthy 16 goals at half time.
Lexton was determined to cut their deficit in the second half, but Navarre remained relentless after the main break.
With Jade Allen, Jess Parry and Grace Long generating consistent turnovers, Dyer, Currie and Amber Perry began to overrun their counterparts in the midcourt, allowing Bergen and Lockhart to go on several scoring runs.
A 17-5 third quarter virtually decided the final result as the Grasshoppers took a 28-goal lead into the final change.
Navarre allowed just three goals in the final 15 minutes to complete another dominant performance that solidified their place inside the top four.
The pairing of Bergen and Lockhart continues to be a goal machine for the Grasshoppers, with Bergen leading with a game-high 40 while Lockhart netted 23.
Phelan and Kennedy did an admirable job for Lexton considering their limited opportunities, scoring 13 and 10 respectively.