Sport
13 August, 2024
15-year drought ends for Talbot, reaching A grade netball finals thanks to win over Dunolly
The B.A Road Services Talbot Hawks have punched their ticket to the A grade netball finals, with their 17-goal victory over Dunolly sealing their first trip to the finals since 2009, ending a long wait for the club.
The Hawks’ win means that they are an unassailable two games clear of Trentham in ninth place.
Talbot did have to work hard in the early stages, with a high-scoring start seeing the Hawks hold a four-goal lead at the opening change thanks to 15 goals to 11. Dom Roche did much of the scoring for the Hawks, scoring 13 goals, while playing-coach Eleisha Phelps added two goals, while for Dunolly, Zoe Aldridge scored seven times and Kate Ashman four.
It was the second quarter where Talbot started to shoot clear, and they scored 16 goals to nine to take an 11-goal lead, 31-20. Roche scored 10 goals, while Phelps added six for the Hawks, while for the Eagles, Aldridge scored seven times and Ashman twice.
It was a goal-for-goal affair in the third term as Dunolly continued to ask questions of the Hawks, but Talbot proved they had every answer throughout the balance of the afternoon. In the end, the Hawks would score 10 goals to nine to increase their lead to 12 goals by the final change, leading 41-29. Roche scored six goals and Phelps four for the Hawks, while Ashman scored six goals and Aldridge three for the Eagles.
It was party time for Talbot as they celebrated a historic, drought-breaking day for the club with a 12-goal to seven final term to ensure that they would take the chocolates. Roche scored eight goals to finish with 37 for the afternoon, while Phelps added four to finish with 16. For Dunolly, Aldridge scored five goals to finish with 22, and Ashman twice to finish on 14.
The Hawks will have a significant test to finish off their home-and-away campaign when they host the Maryborough Giants, while Dunolly will finish off their season when they host Lexton next week.