Sport
22 July, 2025
Navarre hold off a late Newstead comeback
Navarre and Newstead had a closely contested match at Navarre on Saturday, with the Grasshoppers getting over the line by 15 points.
Newstead had the upper hand early with the first goal of the game, but Aaron Slorach was proving difficult to curtail, slotting three goals in the opening term for Navarre to lead at quarter time by five points.
It was the second quarter where Navarre set up their victory with goals to Sam Rickard, Wil Clough and Slorach, but inaccuracy saw them kick four behinds in succession, keeping Newstead in the match.
Nicholas Lord goaled early in the third term for Newstead, but it was quickly answered by three goals from the Grasshoppers forwards to lead at the 13-minute mark by 30 points, and the Grasshoppers were up and about.
Then the Steaders came to life with successive goals from Hayden Hall, Michael Runciman and Joel Smith making it a ten-point ball game going into the final quarter.
The final quarter saw Navarre goal through Brad and Aaron Slorach to make it a 22-point lead, and the local crowd thought the game was over.
However, Newstead kept coming, having the final four shots on goal, but inaccuracy was costly.
It was a hard-fought game, and both sides would have been worthy of the victory, in which the Grasshoppers came out on top.
Navarre named Oliver Notting, Sam Walker, Aaron Slorach, who finished with a game-high seven goals, Angus Bade, Luke Hendy and Jayden Fowkes as their best players.
Newstead listed their best players as Jovian Goulton, Smith, Ethan Maltby, Harrison McGuire, Hall and Runciman.