Sport
1 July, 2025
Talbot hold on in thrilling battle against Lexton
In a massive result for their top-four ambitions, Talbot survived a late scare from Lexton to complete a crucial two-goal win away from home.
The victory keeps the Hawks only four points adrift from the last double-chance position and builds an eight-point gap between themselves and the Tigers on the ladder.
Both teams entered the contest relatively unchanged from their last fixture, both against the Maryborough Giants, with the Hawks adding Abbey Klemm to the team while the Tigers were without young shooter Charlize Kennedy.
Refreshed from last week’s bye, Talbot brought a high level of intensity into the first quarter.
Keen to assert control for themselves, Lexton managed to match the Hawks’ early effort, leading to a frantic opening 15 minutes where neither team could separate themselves from their opponent, finishing 11-11.
While Talbot defender Melissa Scott limited Leesa Donhardt to five goals in the opening term, Kristy Hadler stepped up for Lexton, scoring all six of her attempts.
Even with some early shooting struggles thanks to the constant pressure of Brodey McKay, the Hawks player-coach Eleisha Phelps matched Hadler’s output with six goals while teammate Shianne Milera assisted with five goals.
Looking to shake things up at quarter time, Jane Costello was brought into goal defence for Talbot to pair with Jess White, with Scott moving into wing defence.
The changes were working to begin the second quarter with the visitors creating more chances, however, their control wasn’t translating onto the scoreboard.
That changed when Elenoa Costello was brought on at goal shooter, scoring five goals in six attempts to guide the Hawks to a four-goal half time lead.
Phelps and Milera were the recipients of some great passing from Tina Wardlaw and Loren Aquilina early in the quarter, scoring four goals each.
While White had more luck stopping Hadler who netted five goals in the second quarter, Donhardt started to find her range, converting four of her own.
After some shooting woes in the first half, Phelps found her groove to start the second half, combining with Elenoa Costello to score 14 goals from 17 attempts in the third quarter.
Needing a strong performance from their shooters to keep pace, Hadler and Donhardt delivered, scoring 13 goals from their 17 shots as Lexton remained in touching distance of Talbot with the deficit at five goals at the final break.
That deficit fluctuated throughout the fourth quarter, which saw some high-quality netball from both sides.
Even as Lexton made slight inroads on Talbot’s lead, the Hawks limited mistakes that the Tigers could capitalise on, holding their nerve until the final siren which confirmed their 51-49 victory.
Nine goals in the final period for Elenoa Costello were crucial in Talbot’s win, as she finished with 21 goals from her three quarters with a shooting percentage of 84 percent.
Phelps recovered well in the second half to also finish on 21 goals, including making all four of her attempts in the fourth quarter.
Hadler, Donhardt and the rest of the Tigers gave it their all in their spirited effort at a comeback, as Hadler scored 10 in the last 15 minutes to finish with a game-high 28 goals while Donhardt added six.