The race to the Victorian Netball League Finals series is underway with the season moving past the half-way point following the completion of Round 10 at the State Netball and Hockey Centre on Wednesday night.
CHAMPIONSHIP
The Melbourne University Lightning maintained their mantle as the top championship side this season with a convincing 17-goal win against the DC North East Blaze.
With just percentage separating the Lightning from the City West Falcons at the top of the ladder on nine wins and one loss, every goal could be a deciding factor in determining which team gets the opportunity to host a final come August.
The Falcons won their ninth consecutive match, defeating last year’s reigning premiers, the Boroondara Express 55-45. Avenging for their sole loss of the season in the opening round against the Express 58-53.
Despite the loss, Boroondara are comfortably entrenched inside the top four in third position, a game ahead of the Wilson Storage Southern Saints who defeated the Geelong Cougars 56-44 on Wednesday to move into fourth position.
The Peninsula Waves produced their best attacking performance of the season, keeping their top four hopes alive with a 67-50 victory against the Yarra Valley Grammar Ariels.
The Waves will now face a tough three-week stretch with matches against Boroondara, the Saints and the Lightning to come.
In the final Championship match of the round, the ACU Sovereigns continued their excellent mid-season fightback, recording their second victory in the space of three weeks with a nine-goal win against the Monash University Storm.
MVP leaders: 36 votes – Maggie Lind (Falcons), 29 – Gabrielle Sinclair (Lightning), 28, Ashlee Howard (Express), 19 – Kathleen Knott (Falcons), 17 – Christie Hillberg (Express) and Michelle Massarany (Express)
ROUND 10 CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
Melbourne University Lightning 63 v 46 DC North East Blaze
Monash University Storm 48 v 57 ACU Sovereigns
Yarra Valley Grammar Ariels 50 v 67 Peninsula Waves
Wilson Storage Southern Saints 56 v 44 Geelong Cougars
City West Falcons 55 v 45 Boroondara Express
DIVISION ONE
After 10 Rounds it appears to be a battle of two for this year’s VNL Division One title with the DC North East Blaze and the City West Falcons sharing outright top spot on the ladder on 32 points, eight clear of third placed Geelong Cougars.
Both sides continued their winning form on Saturday night with the Blaze proving too strong for the Melbourne University Lightning winning 52-36, while the Falcons held off the Boroondara Express 54-51.
The Geelong Cougars, Peninsula Waves and Monash University Storm also registered double digit victories.
MVP Leaders: 27 – Emily Post (Falcons), Shae Gee (Express), 22 – Mandy Hanegraaf (Falcons), 18 – Tayissa Coppinger (Blaze), 17 – Julia Allan (Ariels) and Sarah Breed (Cougars)
ROUND 10 DIVISION ONE RESULTS
Wilson Storage Southern Saints 46 v 59 Geelong Cougars
Yarra Valley Grammar Ariels 34 v 52 Peninsula Waves
City West Falcons 54 v 51 Boroondara Express
Monash University Storm 44 v 33 ACU Sovereigns
DC North East Blaze 52 v 36 Melbourne University Lightning
19/Under
The Geelong Cougars showed no signs of their winning streak coming to an end anytime soon with an emphatic 71-35 win against the Wilson Storage Southern Saints.
The Cougars have been unstoppable this season, leading the league for goals scored with 53.5 per match.
Three of the remaining four matches were decided by two goals or less.
The DC North East Blaze held off the Melbourne University Lightning 43-42 to hold on to second place on the ladder ahead of the City West Falcons who defeated the Boroondara Express by 10-goals.
The ACU Sovereigns moved into the top four with a 48-46 win against the Monash University Storm, and the Peninsula Waves won their third game of the season, 42-41 against the Yarra Valley Grammar Ariels.
MVP Leaders: 33 – Ella Quinlan (Saints), 22 – Bridget O’Halloran (Falcons), 20 – Brooke Allan (Cougars), Jordan Cransberg (Lightning) and Sacha McDonald (Sovereigns).
ROUND 10 19/U RESULTS
City West Falcons 43 v 33 Boroondara Express
Monash University Storm 46 v 48 ACU Sovereigns
Melbourne University Lightning 42 v 43 DC North East Blaze
Wilson Storage Southern Saints 35 v 71 Geelong Cougars
Yarra Valley Grammar Ariels 41 v 42 Peninsula Waves
