Sport
5 May, 2026
Newstead defeats Dunolly in hair-raiser
Newstead has overcome their rocky start to the season in thrilling circumstances, vanquishing the previously unbeaten Dunolly with a gripping 31-29 victory.
After falling victim to a fourth-quarter comeback on Anzac Day, the Steaders flipped the script on Saturday, developing an offensive rhythm in clutch time to snatch their first win of 2026.
After being mere millimetres away from holding a towering 4-0 record, the Eagles will enter their round five bye keen to refocus ahead of a difficult run of fixtures.
Both teams were dealt a major conundrum in the lead-up to this intriguing matchup, as the Steaders and Eagles were without starting centres Jessica Currie and Mel Schodde.
While Currie’s absence gave more responsibility to Newstead player-coach Laura Johnston and Caitlan Bird, Johnston’s opposite number and Dunolly leading-scorer Lara Clements filled Schodde’s role in the midcourt.
That opened the door for the returning Hannah Kenny to start at shooter alongside round three standout Stevie Collins.
While excellent defence across the court ensured early goals came at a premium, Kenny and Collins latched onto their opportunities to give the visitors an 8-5 quarter time advantage.
The contest followed in a similar vein after the first interval, as neither team made it easy for their opponent to seize control.
As Newstead defenders Layla Benson-Zepnick and Amelia Britt slowed Kenny and Collins, their teammates Brianna Jury and Emily Cooper were having more luck breaking the defensive riddle of Ashlee Lierich, Teagan Hovey and Ruby Lang.
While the Eagles remained ahead 14-13 at half time, the Steaders were circling their prey, hoping to pounce immediately after the intermission.
However, Dunolly wasn’t prepared to relinquish their unbeaten start, with the third quarter a hotly contested affair.
Following an efficient cameo from Leah Davis, Clements moved back into Dunolly’s attacking goal circle among a host of positional alterations during the period.
As Clements gave the Eagles offence some extra flight, the ball security of Bird and Johnston and the shooting of Jury and Cooper allowed the Steaders to keep pace, still trailing by just a goal at three-quarter time.
The two teams traded goals throughout a nerve-wracking fourth quarter, with every successful shot or intercept swaying each team’s chances at victory.
Determined not to be on the end of another heart-pumping defeat, the Steaders snatched the lead late and held on to take a relieving two-goal victory.
In her best performance of the season so far, Cooper finished with a game-high 21 goals, closely followed by Jury with 10 makes.
Four players hit the scoreboard for Dunolly in a bitter loss. Kenny led with 15 makes while Collins netted eight, and Clements and Davis added three.