Sport
6 May, 2025
Carisbrook register big victory over Talbot
Carisbrook have further staked their claim as a premiership contender in 2025, pulling away from Talbot in the second half to take a 62-42 victory.
With both teams determined to make an early season statement at the other’s expense, the Redbacks and Hawks were trading blows right from the opening centre pass, resulting in an exciting opening term.
It was Carisbrook who took the early lead 16-12, with the dangerous duo of Abbey Nalder and Jordan Macilwain scoring nine and seven respectively with Macilwain not registering a miss in the first quarter.
Talbot’s Alicia McMurray led the way for the Hawks early with nine first-quarter goals, while player-coach Eleisha Phelps made the most of her limited chances, making all three of her attempts.
The second quarter was a more cagey affair, as the Hawks limited the Redbacks’ high-powered offence to nine goals, reducing the deficit to one heading into half time.
Defenders Jess White and Melissa Scott made life difficult for the dependable Nalder in the second quarter, with the shooter only scoring five of her 12 shots while Macilwain continued to be a reliable scoring option, netting four in the quarter.
The Hawks could have extended their lead further with some more clinical shooting, yet McMurray and Phelps still scored six apiece.
With the contest well and truly in the balance, the Redbacks started to take control, creating a nine point buffer after taking the third term 18-10.
Key passes from superstar centre Laura Hurse and Millie Cassidy allowed their shooters to have 30 shots on goal in the third, with Nalder and Macilwain converting nine each.
Seven goals from McMurray and three for Phelps kept the Hawks within striking distance, needing a big fourth quarter to take victory.
The Redbacks had other ideas, with their riches in depth allowing Carisbrook to outrun the Hawks in the last quarter to take a 20-goal victory after a dominant 19-8 final term.
Nalder started to find her range in the fourth, netting 14 with only four misses while Macilwain added another five to finish with 25 goals at an 80 percent shooting rate.
Carisbrook defenders Chloe Egan and Maggie Tranter limited McMurray and Phelps’ chances at turning the tide, with McMurray converting five of nine shots and Phelps adding three.