KEY MOMENTS
Championship
- Hawks Netball have flown a win clear in the top four after a 50-54 victory over the Wilson Storage Southern Saints. The Hawks were stuck in a three-way tie for the last finals spot but the Geelong Cougars’ heavy loss to the City West Falcons and a bye for Melbourne University Lightning has gifted the Hawks some timely breathing room. Saints wing defence Jordyn Adams collected plenty of ball in a battle that went goal for goal until the standout performance of shooting pair Kaylia Stanton (35 goals, 92%) and Annabelle Gorman (14 goals, 74%) allowed the Hawks to pull away to victory.
- Boroondara Express snapped their losing streak to retain their top two ladder position after outlasting a brave Western Warriors outfit. Boroondara goalers Ally Black (24 goals, 96%) and Isabelle Hodgson (41 goals, 84%) kept defenders busy as they shared the shooting load, while the Warriors rallied in the fourth quarter from a 10-goal deficit to push Express to the final whistle 63-66.
- Bendigo Strikers posted a confidence-building win over the Casey Demons, pulling away to a six-goal margin in the final quarter of a match that could have gone either way. Amelia Brock’s 52-goal performance (83%) was crucial to seeing the Strikers climb into eighth on the ladder.
23&Under
- The City West Falcons have all but cemented their place in finals after a 49-58 win over the Geelong Cougars, who hold their position three wins behind in fifth. The Falcons controlled the entire match and led by as much as 17 goals, before a heavily rotated Cougars outfit hustled to close the gap. Falcons goal shooter Holly Adams-Alcock had a near-perfect outing, scoring 43 goals from 46 attempts.
- Peninsula Waves missed their chance to stir an upset after falling to North East Blaze 47-55. A win could have opened their path to finals, but they struggled to smother the Blaze who, despite having just one bench player, barely faltered in a complete performance led by Olivia Cawthray (48 goals, 87%).
RESULTS
Championship
Peninsula Waves (46) vs (83) North East Blaze
Western Warriors (63) vs (66) Boroondara Express
Wilson Storage Southern Saints (50) vs (54) Hawks Netball
Geelong Cougars (55) vs (72) City West Falcons
Casey Demons (60) vs (66) Bendigo Strikers
*MU Lightning BYE
23&Under
Peninsula Waves (47) vs (55) North East Blaze
Melbourne University Lightning (55) vs (43) Gippsland Stars
Western Warriors (56) vs (46) Boroondara Express
Wilson Storage Southern Saints (51) vs (61) Hawks Netball
Geelong Cougars (49) vs (58) City West Falcons
Casey Demons (67) vs (39) Bendigo Strikers
HOT SHOT LEADERBOARDS
Championship
1. 674 - Jane Cook (Falcons)
2. 634 - Kaylia Stanton (Hawks)
3. 628 - Emma Ryde (Casey)
23&Under
1. 545 - Charlize Gabel Joseph (Waves)
2. 485 - Hayley Howard (Saints)
3. 474 - Ella Closter (Warriors)
NEXT UP – ROUND 18
Sunday 23 June
Bendigo Stadium
Bendigo Strikers vs Western Warriors
Monday 24 June
Olive Road Sports Complex, Casey
Casey Demons vs Gippsland Stars (23&U only – Championship BYE)
Wednesday 26 June
State Netball Centre, Parkville
City West Falcons vs Peninsula Waves
Geelong Cougars vs Boroondara Express
Wilson Storage Southern Saints vs Melbourne University Lightning
Hawks Netball vs North East Blaze
