Sport
19 May, 2026
Saints defence locks down Bombers in 31-goal win
An outstanding defensive performance allowed Trentham to overpower Maldon with a 49-18 win, solidifying their early placing inside the top eight.
The Bombers found themselves on lockdown at Trentham Reserve on Saturday, with the returning Lauren Girvan and season-debuting Madelyn Keeping helping stalwarts Jessica Walker and Madelyne Brennan fortify the Saints’ defence with a titanium layer.
Thirty second-half goals from shooters Charli Copeland and Sharna Ford powered Trentham to a comfortable victory before their upcoming encounter with Harcourt.
While the aforementioned inclusions of Girvan and Keeping headlined Trentham’s team news, Maldon had nothing to report, remaining unchanged from their defeat to Carisbrook in round five.
Both teams wasted no time in cementing their defensive game plan, resulting in goals coming at a premium in the first quarter.
Following her encouraging cameo against the Redbacks, Eva Gross made an immediate impact in the starting lineup, as she and Emma Webb restricted the Saints to eight goals in the first 15 minutes.
While Maldon placed a barbed wire fence around their offence, Trentham had put the Bombers’ attack under a constant siege, allowing two goals all quarter to enter the opening interval six goals ahead.
After a low-scoring opening term, the Saints and Bombers both found their offensive rhythm after quarter time, with Amy Vandenham and Charlotte Harrison lifting their teams in the midcourt.
It was Trentham who were more clinical with their opportunities in the second quarter, increasing Maldon’s deficit to 11 goals.
With hopes of replicating the success from the week prior, Sophie Zammit was inserted into the goal shooter to begin the second half, tasked with providing Maldon with an offensive spark.
Rory Baker came off the bench to fill Zammit’s former role at wing defence.
One team did develop a blistering attack in the second half, but unfortunately for the Bombers, it was Trentham who hit the ground running.
With the rotating trio of Vandenham, Brennan and Stevie Courtney keeping things lively in the midcourt, Copeland and Ford were given ample chances to hit the scoreboard, netting 16 in the third quarter to put the game to bed, up 35-13 at three-quarter time.
The Saints finished the job with a controlled final quarter, as the defensive prowess of Walker, Girvan and Keeping allowed the hosts to outscore Maldon 14-5 in the fourth quarter.
While Ford continues to be Trentham’s offensive linchpin, leading with 27 goals, Copeland picked up a bulk of the scoring slack with a season-high 22 goals.
Bombers co-captain Alannah Furmston led from the front with 12 goals, while Zammit and Laney McNeill added three goals each.