Round 5 of the Victorian Netball League has wrapped up, and the round featured some key, close matches.
Just two teams in the league remain undefeated, the Geelong Cougars in the Championship division, and DC North East Blaze in Division One.
Championship
The Geelong Cougars maintain their position on top of the Championship division ladder, after an 11 goal victory over the Wilson Storage Southern Saints.
Geelong are the only team in the division who remain undefeated, winning all five of their matches for the season.
Shooter Kate Thompson, was again impressive for the side, scoring 42 of her team’s 55 goals.
The round concluded with a thrilling match between the DC North East Blaze and Peninsula Waves.
Played as a curtain-raiser to the Melbourne Vixens v Adelaide Thunderbirds game on Sunday, the VNL match did not disappoint.
A one-goal margin was maintained for majority of the match, with the Waves leading by one at quarter-time, half-time and three-quarter-time.
Then, a thrilling last quarter saw the scores level with just seconds on the clock. A shot for goal after the siren following a penalty, saw Blaze walk away with the points in a one-goal victory, 48-47.
Division One
There was another close match in Division One, between Melbourne University Lightning and Ariels.
It was a game of two-halves, with the Lightning leading the match by two at half-time, then the Ariels by five at three-quarter-time.
A strong defensive quarter by the Lightning in the fourth brought the margin back, however they were unable to regain the lead and the Ariels claimed victory by one goal, 50-49.
19/U
Suli Leota was dominant in DC North East Blaze’s 16 goal win over the Peninsula Waves in 19/U.
Playing the match in Goal Shooter, Leota shot 39 of her team’s 63 goals against the Waves, 47.
It was a low-scoring affair when the Monash University Storm took on the Boroondara Express.
Sitting sixth and seventh of the ladder, the pressure was intense from both teams.
Boroondara led at every break, however only just came away victors in the end after a Storm comeback, 39-38.