Sport
2 June, 2026
Newstead vanquish fast-starting Maldon in thriller
An excellent defensive perfor-mance allowed Newstead to survive a severe scare from Maldon and boost their top-eight chances with a tense seven-goal triumph.
With a five-goal lead at quarter time, the Bombers had visions of snapping their long-standing 24-game losing streak.
However, the Steaders turned off the projector, retaking the lead in the second quarter before Layla Benson-Zepnick and Amelia Britt restricted Maldon to four goals in the final term.
While Newstead were unchanged from their encouraging yet unsuccessful performance against the Maryborough Giants, the Bombers brought major reinforcements to Newstead Recreation Reserve.
Claire Hamilton made her timely return in a massive boost to Maldon’s defensive third after missing their last five games.
Hamilton immediately reasserted herself as a difference-maker, using her height and athleticism to break up several of Newstead’s first forays forward.
Fellow defenders Emma Webb and Gabrielle Kelly were also causing headaches for the Steaders early as Maldon looked to capitalise on their superb start.
Co-captain Alannah Furmston provided extra pressure on offence, helping the Bombers establish a five-goal buffer at the opening change.
Following their disappointing first quarter, Newstead immediately called upon their bench to provide a jolt. Britt took the goal keeper bib from player-coach Laura Johnston and Sophie Bond slotted in at wing defence.
With Britt and Bond quickly refortifying their defence, the Steaders responded to their early wake-up call, snatching control in the second quarter.
Jessica Currie and Caitlan Bird began to dictate the tempo in the midcourt, allowing Emily Cooper and Brianna Jury to regain some confidence in the attacking goal circle as they helped Newstead flip their deficit into a two-goal lead at half time.
Looking to respond to the success of Newstead’s quarter time alterations, the Bombers hoped Laney McNeill and Rory Baker would provide a similar impact off the bench in the second half.
With McNeill subbing in at goal attack, that opened the door for Sophie Zammit to pair alongside Hamilton in defence.
The duo did a tremendous job keeping the rotating shooting tandem of Cooper, Jury and Johnston to just six goals in the third quarter.
However, despite McNeill providing an offensive boost, the defensive excellence of Benson-Zepnick and Britt maintained Maldon’s two-goal deficit at three-quarter time.
Benson-Zepnick and Britt continued to be instrumental in the Steaders’ aspirations to preserve their narrow advantage, constantly breaking up Maldon’s momentum with timely interceptions.
While their defenders denied Maldon chances to claw their way back, Newstead’s patience and discipline in attack ensured the margin slowly grew throughout the fourth quarter.
The Bombers attempted every-thing to turn the tide, but the Steaders proved uncatchable, clinching their second win of the season.
Jury and Cooper were key to Newstead holding on at the end, finishing with 14 and 13 goals, respectively. Johnston also had effective shooting stints in the second half, finishing with three goals.
Furmston ended as the game’s leading scorer with 15 goals for Maldon, while Zammit netted five and McNeill scored three in her third-quarter cameo.