Sport
7 July, 2026
Hawks scorch Giants with red-hot attack
A splendid 51-goal performance from star shooter Elenoa Costello has added a nitro boost to Talbot’s rapid ascendancy back up the MCDFNL ladder against an intrepid Maryborough, conquering the Giants by 31 goals.
With their third victory in four matches, the Hawks have flown into sixth in the standings while the Giants enter their vital encounter with Dunolly trailing the top eight by four points.
Led by Victorian Netball League reserves player Lacey Broad, Maryborough entered Saturday’s match boosted by several influential returns.
Key defender Riahni Egan was an equally impactful addition, while Emme Johnson returned after missing Maryborough’s narrow victory over Campbells Creek.
Despite having a relatively unchanged squad outside of Portia Hughes’ absence, the Hawks elected to slightly gamble with their starting seven.
After scoring 21 goals in Talbot’s 18 and under draw with Mary-borough earlier in the afternoon, Talbot youngster Charli Kaye was given the start at goal attack, allowing Loren Aquilina to start at centre.
The decision turned into a jackpot for the Hawks, who dominated the opening term as Aquilina controlled the midcourt alongside Tina Wardlaw with her sharp passing and off-ball movement.
The Giants had no answers for Costello early, who alongside Kaye gave Talbot a commanding 11-goal lead at quarter time thanks to a whopping 21 goals.
As Costello remained in unstoppable form following the interval, the Giants moved Broad out of goal shooter to mark Costello midway through the second quarter.
With Broad denying the Hawks midcourt easy access to Costello through the lob pass while Macey Parry, Egan and Johnson provided pressure in the defensive third, Maryborough began to slow Talbot’s rampaging offence.
Even as Broad’s presence was felt elsewhere, the Giants maintained a consistent scoring rate as they ended the first half in fine form.
Leading by 17 goals at half time, the Hawks reverted to their familiar attacking lineup with Aquilina back at goal attack as they looked to extend their comfortable cushion.
Yet Maryborough weren’t going down without a fight, building upon their late first half promise to challenge the Hawks during a third quarter reminiscent of the gripping semi-finals between these teams in recent years.
Despite her relatively smaller stature compared to Talbot’s towering defensive duo of Jane Dikini and Maddy Williams, Bridget Allan was having herself a day, weaving her way to scoring chances she routinely swished through the net.
Allan’s excellence, coupled with Maryborough’s swarming defence, ensured Talbot could only extend their margin by an extra two goals during the third term.
After their offence stole the show in the first half, Talbot’s defensive third starred in the fourth quarter, limiting the hosts to five goals to increase the final margin of victory to 31 goals.
Alongside Costello’s 51 goals, Aquilina scored seven in the second half after Kaye netted six.
Allan was a major bright spot for the Giants, converting 19 of her 23 attempts at goal. Following Broad’s 10-goal flourish and Laura McStravick’s single make in the first half, Jorgia Brown scored four second-half goals alongside Allan.