Sport
20 August, 2024
Regan’s regal 11-goal haul guides Trentham
MALDON 12.5 (77) def by TRENTHAM 25.10 (160)
Trentham have charged into a juicy qualifying final date with Harcourt behind an electric performance from James Regan, who finished the season as the competition’s leading goalkicker with an 11-goal haul, in their 83-point victory over Maldon at Bill Woodfull Reserve.
In a free-flowing opening quarter, 10 goals were scored, but it was danger signs for Maldon early, with the Saints banging on seven goals in the opening term to lead by 29 points at the opening change.
The Saints continued on their way in the second term, and extended their lead to 51 points by half time thanks to a five-goal to one quarter.
With 12 goals on the board, the Saints continued to be relentless, and in another high-scoring quarter, kicking eight goals to five to improve their lead to 69 points at the final change.
Trentham finished off an impressive day of football by adding five more goals to three in the final term, arresting their two-game losing slump in some style.
Regan was the star of the show with his 11 goals, but credit also had to go to Jake Keogh and the returning Joel Cowan, who were terrific through the midfield, with the former kicking four goals to provide another option up forward.
Sam Kelly, Harrison Knight and Joel Dovaston were also among the best players for Trentham, who will now be looking to ensure that they can reverse past heartbreak against Harcourt at Carisbrook Recreation Reserve next week, having been eliminated by the Lions in the 2023 preliminary final, as well as beaten by five points in the 2022 qualifying final.
For Maldon, they will now be required to bounce back when they take on Carisbrook at Carisbrook on Sunday in a do-or-die elimination final.
They did have some good passages, particularly in the third quarter with their five-goal haul, but will be hoping to clean up defensively after falling short in five of their last seven outings.
Matthew Gray did his best against the tide, while Cody Gunn, Darcy Kelly, Bradley Evans, Adam Robinson and Billy Johns were also named in the best.
Brodie Leonard-Shannon finished off an impressive home-and-away campaign with three goals to finish runner-up in the goalkicking charts, while Gunn and Noah Thompson were also multiple goalkickers with two apiece.