The Victorian Netball League is coming down to the wire with many teams firmly in finals and others on the fringe. Ladder leaders were put on notice this week with a couple of upsets and one team making a late run home.
Championship Game
Hawks Netball (49) defeated by Boroondara Express (59)
Melbourne University Lightning (66) defeated Peninsula Waves (56)
Ariels (54) defeated by Wilson Storage Southern Saints (62)
North East Blaze (61) defeated by Casey Demons (75)
City West Falcons (53) defeated by Geelong Cougars (68)
Casey Demons currently sit outside of the top four but only by one win. Enlisting 19/Under coach and former Australian Diamond, Erin Bell, to complete an already star-studded line-up of Victorian talent, the Championship team came out with a fire in the belly. Bell accompanied by Emma Ryde raised the bar last night to show the North East Blaze they aren’t a team to be underestimated.
North East Blaze also impressed with their formidable shooting duo in Nyah Allen and Georgia Moody who are renowned to turning and scoring from wherever in the goal circle. In total, the two teams scored an impressive 136 goals in the 60-minute game with Casey coming out on top.
Division 1 Saints Ariels
North East (63) defeated Casey Demons (42)
Hawks Netball (53) defeated Boroondara Express (37)
Melbourne University (47) defeated by Peninsula Waves (58)
City West Falcons (56) defeated Geelong Cougars (49)
Ariels (48) defeated by Wilson Storage Southern Saints (50)
The contest between Ariels and Wilson Storage Southern Saints went down to the wire, with only two goals separating them at the final whistle. Both teams were desperate to add to the scoreboard, not just to win the game but to also raise some money for teammate Clara Choi who was recently diagnosed with Leukaemia.
It was a showcase of free-flowing play, thanks to a range of strong drives, accurate passing and team connections. The Ariels team who struggled in the opening rounds to solidify their connections looked strong as they came down the court. Shooters, Ally Black and Keely Boudrie also demonstrated how important it is to know your shooter as they manoeuvred around the circle seamlessly to score goals.
For the Saints, newcomer, Zahli Adams, impressed the crowd with her tenacious defence and ability to deflect the ball against holding shooter Boudrie as well as re-offer and bring the ball down the court for her side.
19/Under
Ariels (56) defeated by Wilson Storage Southern Saints (69)
City West Falcons (52) defeated Geelong Cougars (45)
North East Blaze (69) defeated Casey Demons (36)
MU Lightning (68) defeated Peninsula Waves (58)
Hawks Netball (41) defeated Boroondara Express (39)
If you were looking at the ladder prior to this match, you may have overlooked the clash between Hawks Netball and Boroondara Express. However, it was a game that came down to the final seconds with both teams determined to secure the win.
Without Dee Dee Lambert, it was up to Eliza Molino to be the stronghold shooter for Hawks Netball but coming up against Victorian teammate Saachi Donald it was going to be a challenge. Luckily out front for Molino was Simona Di Filippo who played with her heart on her sleeve and presented for every single pass.
Coming on in the second quarter to line up against Di Filippo, Ava Gaul was also a force to be reckoned with as a more defensive centre. She provided the much needed hands over pressure in the middle third and bullet passes into Teah Wilson and Piper Feikema.
The matchup of the game however was between Sienna Green and Ella Harvey. Both strong players on their own it wasn’t until the end of the third quarter after an injury timeout that Ella Harvey started to dominate in the Boroondara line-up and shift the course of the game bringing the team back from a seven goal deficit, but it was too little too late.
