Sport
21 April, 2026
Costello’s 57 allow Hawks to vanquish Magpies
Following a sometimes nervy round one performance against Harcourt, Talbot showcased its full destructive potential against Campbells Creek with an exclaiming 86-24 triumph.
Similar to the week prior, the Hawks were challenged by the heavy underdogs early, with the Magpies trailing by eight goals at quarter time.
Unlike round one, Talbot didn’t wait until half time to create a blowout margin, with Elenoa Costello and Eleshia Phelps scoring a stunning 27 goals in the second quarter to give the Hawks a healthy lead that was never threatened.
Following an encouraging 2025 campaign, a new-look Campbells Creek team entered their season opener optimistic of an encouraging performance against last season’s runner-up.
One of the Magpies returning faces, Taylah Sartori, impressed in the first quarter, immediately creating an intriguing matchup with Talbot conductor Loren Aquilina as she fought hard in the midcourt alongside recruit Heni Moeke.
Magpies shooters Mia Martin and Claire Jones also got off to a promising start, breaking away from the surveillance of Jane Costello and Maddy Williams to get some early buckets.
Even with Campbells Creek opening well and Elenoa Costello sitting out the first quarter after an impressive second-half performance versus Harcourt, 17 goals from Phelps and Jess White gave the Hawks an eight-goal lead at the first interval.
Brought on after quarter time, Elenoa Costello caught fire almost immediately, quickly building Talbot’s advantage past double digits.
Also making a noticeable impact coming off the Hawks bench was Portia Hughes, helping to shore up the visitors’ defence after coming on at wing defence.
Assisted by the frantic midcourt pace of Aquilina and Tina Wardlaw, Talbot shooters exploded in the second quarter as the favourites took a comfortable 29-goal lead into half time.
Campbells Creek elected to make several changes following a disappointing second quarter, with Moeke shifting into goal attack, Jones swapping goal circles to play goal defence and McKenna Wynveen brought on to play wing defence.
Even as Jones and Reagan Fulford placed some cold water on Talbot’s burning hot offence at the start of the second half, it couldn’t stop the Hawks from extending their lead to 40 goals at the final change.
Following some lineup experimentation in the third quarter, the Hawks finished their blowout victory with a flourish, outscoring the Magpies 25-3 in the final term to place the exclamation point on a statement victory.
In three quarters of netball, Elenoa Costello scored at an astonishing rate, finishing with 57 goals while Phelps was equally dominant by making 20 of her 22 shots.
White and youngster Charli Kaye also shared time deputising for Phelps at goal attack, resulting in White making six shots in the first half and Kaye adding three in the fourth quarter.
Martin led the Campbells Creek attack with 16 goals from 26 attempts while Jones and Moeke tacked on four goals each.