Sport
14 July, 2026
Talbot Hawks overpower valiant Bombers
Talbot continued to reinstate their credentials as a dark horse premiership contender with a 64-38 victory over Maldon.
Following a rivalrous opening term that raised a faint concern for the favoured hosts, a hard-hitting second quarter allowed the Hawks to take complete control.
Star shooter Elenoa Costello ended with an eye-popping 55 goals to guide Talbot to their fourth victory in five games.
Fresh off helping the club’s B grade team to a long-awaited victory last week, midcourter Sophie Bennett and defender Daisy McKimmie were called up for their first A grade appearance of the season for a Maldon team driven to deliver after their heartbreaking loss to Campbells Creek.
That motivation was evident right from the opening whistle as the Bombers mounted a challenge to last season’s runners-up.
Alongside Bennett, midcourters Charlotte Harrison and Claire Kelly were protecting the netball well against Talbot’s vaunted defensive unit.
Maldon defenders Heidi Brookes and Laney McNeill also started extremely well, ensuring Loren Aquilina and Tina Wardlaw had to be patient before firing the ball into Talbot’s attacking end.
Despite a noticeable gust blowing around Talbot Recreation Reserve, Talbot’s Costello and Charli Kaye and Maldon’s Alannah Furmston and Sophie Zammit quickly found the bottom of the net.
While the Hawks found themselves in front, the Bombers were pleased by their first quarter performance, heading into the opening break trailing 14-10.
Talbot flexed their superiority after the interval, producing several scoring runs that quickly expanded their previously narrow lead.
Maldon still managed to create consistent scoring opportunities, but any miscued shot or pass was often collected by Maddy Williams and Melissa Scott, who were becoming more accustomed to not having the presence of reliable defender Jane Dikini.
Williams and Scott’s interventions gave Aquilina and Wardlaw more opportunity to influence the game, helping Costello and Kaye score 18second-quarter goals as the lead ballooned to 12 by half time.
Both teams elected for defensive substitutions to start the second half. In Dikini’s absence, teenager Renae Neilsen was given the goal defence bib to pair Williams in the goal circle.
The Bombers subbed on Zoe Brown at goal keeper to try and slow Costello’s rapid scoring pace, but when Talbot’s sharpshooter gets on a roll, sometimes the best form of defence is to duck and cover.
With her outstanding reach and elite positional awareness, Costello was dominating the post, giving herself easy opportunities under the rim.
An accurate term from Zammit ensured the Bombers reached double digits for the third straight quarter, but it couldn’t stop Talbot from taking an insurmountable 19-goal lead into three-quarter time.
After rising star Kaye netted seven in the first three quarters, Aquilina joined Costello in the goal circle for the fourth quarter, adding two goals.
Louella Roche joined fellow 18 and under standout Neilsen in defence midway through the period, with the emerging duo helping Talbot secure a 26-goal win.
Despite the tough shooting conditions, Zammit upped her season-high from the week before to 25 goals on Saturday alongside Furmston, who scored 13.