KEY MOMENTS
Championship
- Back-and-forth scoring saw the Western Warriors come out victors in a nailbiter with the Peninsula Waves. Despite the high score of 63-61, it was a defensive heavy game as both teams had tight one-on-one efforts to turn ball over. The Waves upped the intensity in the last quarter to produce their highest score of the season so far, the previous highest being 54 goals in Round 3. Both Bec Hicks and Kim Borger finished at 100% accuracy shooting 30 and 20 goals respectively.
- Casey Demons secured the win in the dying minutes against North East Blaze in a defensive masterclass, jumping to fifth on the ladder. Sacha McDonald’s shift from centre into goal attack was integral for the Demons as she carved up the baseline and utilised the angles for the ball to land in prime feeding position. Blaze’s Georgia Moody sighted the goal circle early to lob the ball into Sam Silvester who was clinical at the post with 40 goals at 90%.
- A strong start for the Southern Saints set them up for an early seven-goal lead and the eventual win over Melbourne University Lightning. Lightning threw all the changes on court to find a way into the contest, eventually levelling the score, but the Saints would pull away. Kate Oman’s change of direction and feeds into Millie Roach, who shot an impressive 43 goals (84%), kept the Saints attack line flowing. Kirby Elliott was a major ball winner for the Lightning across the defensive third.
23&Under
- Boroondara Express defeated the Geelong Cougars by eight goals in a breakout fourth quarter. Ally Black and Ella Harvey found target Henrietta Donoghue (39 goals at 78%) with ease throughout the match, their connection proving pivotal in the win. Louise Shaw had another blinder for the Cougars as Express rotated out to stop her, but Shaw couldn’t be shut down.
- Hawks Netball are in the top four after a commanding triumph over the City West Falcons. Several changes for Falcons switched the momentum into the Hawks’ favour with a seven-goal turnaround by halftime. Once the Hawks found their footing, they never looked back and won the fourth quarter 16-6. Allie Davidson had another standout game for the Hawks with her leadership in the attack end, controlling the pace of the game while scoring 24 goals at 88%. Holly Adams-Alcock was strong at the post for Falcons with 23 goals at 92%.
- The Bendigo Strikers had a convincing win over the Gippsland Stars. The Strikers scored 19 goals in the first quarter and continued to punish, leaving the Stars stunned and forcing them to rotate both circles. Paris Dunkley was a key cog in the Stars midcourt and her battle with Bendigo’s Shae Clifford was tight and physical, making it difficult for one to get the upper hand.
DEBUTS
Isla Prentice, Holly Engler, Chelsea Smith and Charlie Romeril made their VNL umpiring debuts
RESULTS
Championship
Gippsland Stars (31) vs (67) Bendigo Strikers
North East Blaze (57) vs (60) Casey Demons
Melbourne University Lightning (47) vs (54) Wilson Storage Southern Saints
Boroondara Express (57) vs (43) Geelong Cougars
Western Warriors (63) vs (61) Peninsula Waves
Hawks Netball (59) vs (65) City West Falcons
23&Under
Gippsland Stars (39) vs (57) Bendigo Strikers
North East Blaze (67) vs (43) Casey Demons
Melbourne University Lightning (68) vs (48) Wilson Storage Southern Saints
Boroondara Express (59) vs (51) Geelong Cougars
Western Warriors (49) vs (61) Peninsula Waves
Hawks Netball (54) vs (37) City West Falcons
HOT SHOT LEADERBOARDS
Championship
- 486 – Jane Cook (Falcons)
- 370 – Emma Ryde (Demons)
- 344 – Ashlea Mawer (Hawks)
23&Under
- 371 – Olivia Cawthray (Blaze)
- 266 – Charlize Gabel Joseph (Waves)
- 222 – Hayley Howard (Saints)
NEXT UP – ROUND 9
Pride Round
Wednesday 14 May
Peninsula Waves vs Melbourne University Lightning
Geelong Cougars vs North East Blaze
Boroondara Express vs Gippsland Stars
Casey Demons vs Western Warriors
Friday 16 May
Wilson Storage Southern Saints vs City West Falcons (Sandringham)
Sunday 18 May
Bendigo Strikers vs Hawks Netball (Bendigo)
