Sport
2 June, 2026
Carisbrook overpowers valiant Talbot
Carisbrook emphatically completed the home and away season double over an under-manned Talbot with a convincing 34-goal victory.
After their round three thriller was decided by the slimmest of margins, the Redbacks built a healthy advantage early thanks to a 19-6 opening term that set the tone.
While Carisbrook’s unchanged side quickly carried the momentum from their dominant win over Campbells Creek, the Hawks were dealt a massive blow with leading scorer Elenoa Costello ruled out for this match.
With their new shooting tandem of Jess White and Loren Aquilina thrown into the deep end against Carisbrook’s elite defensive trio of Finley Wagstaff, Elise Mottram and Charlotte Cain, Talbot struggled to create consistent scoring throughout the first quarter.
That allowed the in-form Abbey Nalder and the ever-reliable Jordan McClure to power the Redbacks to a 13-goal lead at quarter time.
The Hawks turned to emerging teenagers Charli Kaye and Naomi Henderson to provide a spark off the bench, with Henderson helping Maddy Williams and Melissa Scott cool Carisbrook’s fast-starting offence in the second quarter.
However, boosted by the arrival of Chloe Egan at wing defence, the Redbacks continued to prevent Talbot’s reshuffled attack from getting comfortable.
After allowing just 12 goals in the first half, Carisbrook found them-selves in complete control at half time, up by 19 goals.
Even as co-captain Katie Bilton was rested during the third quarter, the Redbacks remained relentless when play resumed for the second half.
The Hawks looked to kickstart a second-half challenge with Aquilina shifting back into centre, Tina Wardlaw stepping up to play goal defence and Portia Hughes filling in at wing defence.
However, Laura Hurse and Lauren Jones fuelled Carisbrook’s runaway train with some brilliant passes in the midcourt.
Nalder and McClure were the beneficiaries of another outstanding showing from the Redbacks’ play-makers, adding another 19 goals in the third term to balloon the final break margin to 32 goals.
Credit to the Hawks, they found a suitable offensive formula in the absence of their top two offensive weapons in Costello and Eleisha Phelps, who hasn’t played in Talbot’s last four games.
After a solid showing by Kaye, fellow youngster Lilli Gale show-cased her immense potential with five goals in the fourth quarter for Talbot.
The visitors’ defence also showed noticeable improvements in the closing stages, but the damage had already been done as Carisbrook completed a memorable home victory.
Nalder resumed her sparkling form with a game-high 43 goals, while her player-coach McClure continues to provide a steady hand to the Redbacks’ attack, converting 18 of her 22 shots.
In their attempts to solve their offensive conundrum, Talbot had four players on Saturday’s score-sheet, led by White and her nine goals.
Aquilina made eight of her ten attempts in the first half, while teenagers Kaye and Gale scored five each.