Sport
4 August, 2026
Carisbrook’s red-hot attack burns Newstead
A devastating second half catapulted Carisbrook back into the winners’ column, defeating Newstead by 35 goals.
After struggling to surpass Newstead’s persistent defensive pressure in the first quarter, the Redbacks’ offence found its groove in the second quarter, which continued into an entertaining 41-goal second half.
Abbey Nalder returned to her dominant best on Saturday following a difficult outing against Natte Bealiba, finishing with 43 goals alongside another outstanding shooting performance from Carisbrook player-coach Jordan Macilwain.
Despite losing Chelsey Williams from the team that was bested by Navarre the weekend prior, Newstead’s defensive trio consisting of the returning Caitlan Bird, Amelia Britt and player-coach Laura Johnston did a tremendous job restricting Carisbrook’s attack throughout the first term.
With the Redbacks midcourt noticeably weakened by the absence of Charlotte Cain, the Steaders’ Jessica Currie, Brianna Jury and Emily Cooper ensured they pounced on some early takeaways to pile pressure on the hosts.
Despite Newstead’s strong start, the clinical shooting of Nalder and Macilwain gave Carisbrook a one-goal lead at quarter time.
Assisted by the tireless efforts of captain Katie Bilton and Lauren Jones, Carisbrook’s destructive shooting tandem found another gear to start the second quarter as their lead suddenly expanded.
Defenders Finley Wagstaff and Elise Mottram cemented the Redbacks advantage with several key takeaways that helped the hosts generate a noticeable buffer between themselves and the Steaders.
Hoping to secure their 11-goal half time lead, the Redbacks elected to shift Jones and Bilton back to wing defence and centre respectively, allowing Ella Bartlett to take the wing attack bib to start the second half.
Newstead also elected to tinker with their lineup, cementing Sophie Bond at goal defence following her second quarter cameo while Johnston platooned in the midcourt.
Unfortunately for the Steaders, those changes didn’t stop Carisbrook from creating an insurmountable 24-goal lead by three-quarter time.
Bartlett provided a jolt of energy to the Redbacks midcourt as she and Bilton helped Nalder and Macilwain score 22 goals in the third term.
Fresh off scoring 74 goals at an astounding conversion rate of 86 percent in her last four appearances, Macilwain continued her lights-out shooting form with 26 goals from just 28 attempts alongside Nalder’s game-high 43 goals as Carisbrook completed their 69-34 victory.
Brianna Jury and Emily Cooper also had an effective shooting day for Newstead, finishing with 19 and 15 goals respectively.