Sport
8 July, 2025
Nothing could separate Carisbrook and Trentham, ending in a 36-36 draw
The battle between two league heavyweights ended in the most unpredictable and climatic way possible, as Carisbrook and Trentham were forced to share the four points after their remarkable contest ended in a draw.
A crowd-pleasing game was expected and it delivered as both teams gave their all in a low-scoring affair.
Trentham may not have had Brent Harvey playing for them, but former dual MCDFNL Best and Fairest Joel Cowan played his first game of the season and immediately made an impact, kicking the opening goal inside a minute of the first quarter.
Carisbrook lost Cohen Leech early when he was stretchered from the field, which had the home team down a man for the remainder of the game.
The Saints had the upper hand, but it was a low scoring term, with Cowan’s goal being the only one kicked for the quarter.
The Saints led the Redbacks by seven points at quarter time.
MCDFNL leading goal-kicker, James Regan, kicked an amazing snapshot around his body from the opening bounce of the second term to post his only goal of the game.
Defender Anden Lever was very impressive in restricting the star forward to one goal for the match.
Carisbrook mounted the challenge, and kicked three goals through Ricky Pearson, Brady Neill, and Kangaroo Flat recruit Harry Whitty, who was playing his first game for the Redbacks.
Carisbrook took a three-point lead into half time.
Another low scoring term saw the Saints fight back with goals to Mitch Jensen, just five minutes in which put the visitors in front, and Cowan who marked a bullet pass from Jake Keogh and slotted the set shot for Trentham, who led at three quarter time by 10 points.
Early in the final term, Trentham was doing all of the attacking and Regan had a shot from the boundary, but it fell short and Neill marked
the ball just one foot inside the goal line.
The game turned at the 13-minute mark when Whitty goaled from a set shot to bring the deficit within five points.
The new recruit marked again just two minutes later and he put the Redbacks in front by a point at the 15-minute mark.
The lead was short lived as Cowan had a shot on the run, but was pushed as he kicked it and the ball deviated and hit the post to level the scores.
Trentham were attacking, but the Redbacks defence held them out, and they were well led by Darcy Bond who repelled many attacking moves. The siren sounded at the 22-minute mark with scores being equal.
The ruck duel between Jackson Bowen and Zac Gervasoni was a highlight with both players named as their teams best player.
Others named for Carisbrook were Mitch Treacy, Neill, Tom Gardam, Lever and Darcy Bond, with Whitty kicking three goals.
Others named for Trentham were Sam Kelly, Tom Fuller, Taylor Ford, Liam Ratliff, and Tom Boyer, with Cowan being the only multiple goal scorer with two goals.