Sport
3 September, 2024
Lexton sets up Natte Bealiba blockbuster prelim
CARISBROOK (42) def by LEXTON (49)
Lexton have charged into the A grade netball preliminary final courtesy of a seven-goal victory over Carisbrook.
A big third quarter was the key for the Tigers, who were able to establish a match-winning gap to ensure that they would repeat their 2022 heroics in knocking out a top four team to progress to the preliminary final.
The result was payback 12 months in the waiting for the Tigers, given the Redbacks defeated them in last year’s qualifying final, while they had also had the better of the Tigers in the two home-and-away meetings throughout the season.
All of that was put aside, however, on Saturday, with a very tight opening term, with both teams scoring 11 goals to finish the term as it started, with scores level at the opening change.
Abbey Nalder scored six goals for Carisbrook, and Paige McLean five, while Rachel Phelan, in her 200th game, scored 10 goals in the opening term for Lexton, with playing coach Leesa Donhardt adding one.
The second term saw Lexton start to clear away, as they enjoyed the better of the play, and it was the defending of Sarah Fisher, Caitlin Howell and Sarah Griffin which was helping the Tigers to no end, with Phelan and Donhardt converting in the goal ring.
Phelan scored eight goals and Donhardt six for the term, while for Carisbrook, Nalder scored eight goals — including a crucial goal from long-range right on half time which provided a spark to the Redbacks, while McLean added two goals.
The third quarter was all Lexton, dominating territory and ensuring that they would control the pace of play, even though Nalder’s goal on the siren at the half had energised the Redbacks.
It was late in the third term, however, where the Tigers will be sweating on the fitness of Kimberley Roberts, with the star centre carried off following an ankle injury.
Regardless, nothing was stopping the Tigers. Phelan scored 13 goals and Donhardt two for the term, while for Carisbrook, Nalder scored five goals and McLean four.
With Roberts out of the equation, Carisbrook’s midcourt did ask questions of the Lexton defence throughout the last term, and did make up some ground, but the work of Fisher, who was a more-than-capable replacement for Roberts, ensured that Lexton wouldn’t collapse with the pressure on.
Phelan scored five goals to finish with 36 on her big day, while Donhardt added four more to finish with 13, while for Carisbrook, Nalder finished with six goals to finish with 25 for the day, with McLean’s six goals allowing her to finish on 17.
While Carisbrook were unable to win a final, it was a terrific effort to finish inside the top four with a massively-changed lineup, who also dealt with injury during the season.
However, the day was Lexton’s, and Donhardt was delighted with the Tigers’ efforts.
“It was a ripping game. I’m happy for all of us, and also for Rachel, she played a great game, and we were glad to get a win for her and for all of us,” she said.
Turning around the two losses to Carisbrook during the season played on Donhardt’s mind, as was the strong breeze which made controlling the ball a big task.
“The first half was tight, and the wind was coming and going and it made it very hard at times, but we picked it up, played consistent quarters and got the ball as close as we could to the goal ring,” she said.
“We went out with a goal to respect the ball and the play, and that’s what we did.
“Hats off to the girls, it’s such a great effort by everyone.”
Donhardt, like everyone else at Lexton, had an eye on Roberts’ fitness, but was also confident in their ability to showcase the Tigers’ depth.
“Unfortunately, Kimberley has hurt her ankle and we hope she’s right for next week, but the thing is, we have eight girls on this team, they have made it this far and we can continue on,” she said.
Two of those, according to Donhardt, is the dynamic of Griffin and Howell in the back court.
“Sarah and Caitlin hadn’t played together before, and they have been working it out as the season goes on. They are good together and read off one another. It was a mammoth effort by them to get the rebounds and get it down the court,” she said.
Donhardt’s eyes are fairly and squarely now on Natte Bealiba — their first finals meeting since the Swans ended Lexton’s dreams in the 2022 grand final.
“Every time we play Natte Bealiba, it is a tough game, and they’re into the preliminary final for a reason, but so are we, so it’ll be a good game, and hopefully we come away with the win,” she said.
“We only played them once this season, which was in the second round, and we have a completely different team to what we had back then, so it will be a really good game.
“If you don’t play together, you need to get that feeling and the bond, and that’s what we’ve been working on this year since then, and it has shown on the court recently.”