Sport
22 August, 2022
Newstead survives nervous wait
HARCOURT (74) def NEWSTEAD (27) Harcourt ensured they would steam into the top four in their best form after sweeping aside fellow top-eight combatants Newstead by 47 goals. On a dramatic final day of proceedings in A grade netball, the 47-goal loss...

HARCOURT (74) def NEWSTEAD (27)
Harcourt ensured they would steam into the top four in their best form after sweeping aside fellow top-eight combatants Newstead by 47goals.
On a dramatic final day of proceedings in A grade netball, the 47-goal loss was just enough for Newstead to make the finals — as it transpired, had they allowed the Lions to continue at their scoring clip of just over 20 goals a quarter in the final period, they would have been in a position to concede their spot in the finals to Royal Park. Indeed, by restricting Harcourt to 13 goals in the final quarter, the Steaders were able to stave off the Tigers by just 0.87 percent.
Meantime, Harcourt was looking to pinch third position on the ladder off Carisbrook, and got off to the perfect start with a 22-goal to seven opening quarter, before extending their advantage to 27 goals at half time with 19 goals to seven in the second period.
The Lions continued to push in the third quarter, piling on another 20 goals to seven to take a 61-21 lead at the final break.
However, Newstead had their best quarter of the day in the last, losing the quarter by seven goals as Harcourt ran out 74-27 winners.
The result means that Harcourt will play Avoca in the first week of finals, having earned the double chance, while Newstead will now look ahead to a match-up with Lexton next week.
Chelsey Collinson, Tayla Gale and Carly Chaplin were best for the Lions, and in what was an even goalscoring performance all-round, Megan McKay scored 32 goals and Gale 27.
For the Steaders, Emma Jenkyn, Sophie Bond and Brianna Jury were their best players, while Verity Gartside was their leading scorer for the afternoon with 18 goals.