Sport
28 July, 2026
Newstead unable to contain Navarre’s victory march
The Navarre Grasshoppers have followed up their spectacular victory over Natte Bealiba with a 41-goal win over Newstead.
While it wasn’t as convincing as their 80-goal demolition of the Steaders back in round two, Navarre made no mistake after securing a double-digit lead at quarter time and cruised to their 12th victory in 13 matches.
Impactful midcourter Amber Perry was a key addition for the Grasshoppers alongside Catherine O’Dea, who made her first A grade appearance of the season deputising for key defender Jess Parry and teenager Reanna Stewart.
As Navarre’s defence was weakened by the absence of Parry, Newstead’s unit was bolstered by the season debut of Chelsey Williams, who has been a key piece to the Steaders finals appearances in recent years.
After being limited to two goals in their aforementioned round two drubbing, Newstead proved a more attacking challenge on their home floor.
With Sophie Bond and Jessica Currie powering the ball down the midcourt, Laura Johnston, Brianna Jury and Emily Cooper combined for nine goals in the opening term.
However, the Steaders still had no answers for Navarre’s outstanding shooting tandem of Zanaiya Bergen and Aliza Lockhart, who immediately found their range under the net and helped the visitors take a 10-goal lead into quarter time.
Newstead defenders Williams and Amelia Britt enjoyed more successes intervening on opposing passages after the opening interval, but the Grasshoppers’ stellar midcourt of Perry, Sidney Dyer and Brooke Currie ensured Bergen and Lockhart further expanded their advantage early in the second quarter.
Even as Dyer’s shift into goal defence alongside Allen after MCDFNL 18 and under representative Chloe Cassidy was taken off midway through the quarter forced a game plan tweak on the fly, Navarre remained in firm control, doubling up the Steaders 34-17 at half time.
Hoping to improve in the second half, Newstead elected to shift Bond further up the court into wing attack and slot Johnston at Bond’s old position of wing defence.
While Navarre’s makeshift defensive tandem of Dyer, Allen and O’Dea routinely denied their entry passes, the half time alterations did help Jury continue her hot streak after a sharpshooting first half.
Despite Jury’s magical touch, any judge would’ve deemed the Grasshoppers unassailable at three-quarter time as they led by 28 goals.
Even with their hefty lead, the Grasshoppers showed no remorse in the final quarter as Allen and Dyer starred in defence and Perry and Brooke Currie remained tireless in the midcourt.
That allowed Bergen and Lockhart to finish with 39 and 32 goals respectively as Navarre completed a 71-30 victory.
Jury was a major bright spot throughout Newstead’s defeat, scoring 18 goals from just 22 attempts.
After subbing into the attacking goal circle midway through the first quarter following a two-goal stint from Johnston, Cooper provided reliable assistance to Jury while converting 10 shots herself.