Sport
22 July, 2024
Tigers’ key scalp in top four race
CARISBROOK 3.6 (24) def by LEXTON 6.8 (44) It’s almost certain there will be a new top four contender in 2024 as Lexton finished full of running to overrun Carisbrook to move into the top four. At a very soggy Carisbrook Recreation Reserve, it was...
CARISBROOK 3.6 (24) def by LEXTON 6.8 (44)
It’s almost certain there will be a new top four contender in 2024 as Lexton finished full of running to overrun Carisbrook to move into the top four.
At a very soggy Carisbrook Recreation Reserve, it was the Redbacks who shot out of the blocks in the opening 12 minutes, scoring the opening three goals of the game, with Ricky Pearson slotting a terrific set shot goal from the boundary line, Dean Chester launching a goal from long range which skidded through, and Ty Stewart converting from a free kick to give the Redbacks a 19-point lead.
Incredibly, Stewart’s goal was the last goal Carisbrook scored for the day.
Lexton needed a settler, and it would come at the 16-minute mark, fittingly through best man on the ground, Jack Cuttler, giving the Tigers a foothold into the game as they trailed by 12 points at the opening change.
It was Lexton who bounced out of the blocks in the second term as they dominated a large passage of play, but they only had three behinds to show for it until the 19-minute mark of the term when Pat Parr wheeled around onto his left foot and slotted through a terrific goal, not too dissimilar to where Pearson slotted the opening goal of the day. That meant the Tigers closed the gap to three points at the long break.
Scoring was again at a premium as both teams continued to negotiate the increasingly muddy conditions with great difficulty.
Carisbrook increased their lead to five points with two behinds to start the quarter, but it was again late in the term where Lexton were able to hit the scoreboard with the greatest force. Parr kicked his second of the game from directly in front to give the Tigers their first lead of the day, a one-point buffer at the final change.
With push coming to shove, it was the Tigers who put their best foot forward in the last quarter. Cohan Poulton scored the opening goal of the term with a terrific effort from deep in the pocket at the four-minute mark, before the Tigers looked like winners when Jacob Trevenen scored with a kick off the ground to increase the gap to 11 points at the nine-minute mark.
Eleven minutes went by before Tyler Trickey, resting forward, put the finishing touches on the afternoon for the Tigers by sealing the game at the 21-minute mark.
Cuttler’s influence on the game saw him take control through the midfield right when the Tigers needed it after falling three goals behind. But alongside him, Tom McGregor was manful in defence, Jaykeb Lench had a great battle in the ruck with Jackson Bowen, while Lochlan Pett, Joel Antonio and Josh Sargent were also named in Lexton’s best players.
Carisbrook are now in sixth with a 7-6 record, but a positive was the form of Todd Bryant in his first game with the club, named as Carisbrook’s best, and providing plenty of grunt as the Redbacks feed him into a midfield mix which includes Matt Bilton and Tom Gardam. Dean Chester, Bowen, Pearson, Bilton and Adam Hurse were also named in the best for the Redbacks.