A NEW-LOOK fixture made its mark during Round 10 of Victorian Netball League (VNL) action on Wednesday night, with two sides navigating a last-minute bye and a shock loss to Melbourne University Lightning blemishing an otherwise blowout night of state league Championship division action.

Southern Saints (40) defeated by Geelong Cougars (76)

Geelong Cougars did not stutter during a huge 36-goal victory over the Southern Saints, overwhelming the Saints from the get-go as they worked in overdrive to power ahead to an early lead. With confidence and a winning mentality on their side, the Cougars piled on close to 20 goals in each quarter as they raced ahead, and while the Saints never gave up, fatigue came to the fore early as they struggled to contain the Geelong outfit.

It was Julia Woolley and Zanna Woods who got the start in goals with the two working hard from the get-go to negate the workrate of Stephanie McNay and Kirsty Clark. But the moving circle duo just could not be stopped with their rotation and combinations outside with Kaitlyn Sheringham and Emily Post making the going tough for Ashleigh Gill and Lyshae Barry to stop the pinpoint feeds from reaching the goalers. Woods piled on 32 goals from 36 attempts while Woolley finished with 34 from 38, as Bridgette Furphy also took the court to finish with 10 from 15. Geelong have become known for their constant rotations, with Madi Browne and Vanessa Augustini also receiving plenty of court time, with Kellie Davidson and Alana Mcgurgan utilised by the opposition for fresh feet through the midcourt to no avail. For the Saints, Ella Quinlan and Sinead Lumsden were accurate as ever, combining at 82 per cent throughout credit to feeds from Gill and Alesina Toleafoa, however the defensive combination of Brooke Allan and Victoria Honner brimmed with confidence, forcing errors as the goals continued to pile up for Geelong.

Melbourne University Lightning (46) defeated by Boroondara Express (48)

Lightning were dealt their second loss in a number of weeks by a heaving Express outfit, with scores level throughout the first half before Boroondara edged ahead in the second half and held on despite heavy pressure applied by the Uni defence. The return of Melbourne Vixens squad-member Ruby Barkmeyer appeared to be the change the Express needed, utilising the goal attack’s services at the post for the middle two quarters with her newfound experience at Suncorp Super Netball level doing wonders.

But while Barkmeyer’s impact helped, putting up nine goals from 12 attempts, it was a 91 per cent ball-game from Uneeq Palavi that proved to be the match-winner as the goal shooter fired on all cylinders with 37 goals to her name. With evasive footwork and clean hands under pressure, Palavi stepped up against the combination of Fiona Fowler and Gabby Coffey, with feeds from Eleanor Leydin, Barkmeyer and Steph Gorrie, while the side overall was unafraid to throw up the midcourt bibs to combat the workrate of Uni. To Uni’s credit, Shae Brown and Cransberg sisters Zoe and Jordan plied their trade effectively throughout, with Kelsie Rainbow and Maddy Stewart also wreaking havoc. An accurate showing from Mikaela Vaughan and Claudia Mawson made life hard for the Express with Casey Adamson and Taylah Brown working in overdrive out the front of Sophie Shoebridge and Michelle Massarany to ensure the ball was turned over before it entered the goal circle and in the calm hands of the Lightning shooters.

City West Falcons (80) defeated North East Blaze (60)

A fired-up Blaze outfit was not enough to combat the ladder-leading Falcons, with three close quarters seeing an eventual blowout as the Falcons’ class and composure won through. Only leading by three goals at quarter time, the Falcons fired up after the first break to pile on close to 20 goals each term for the remainder of the match, with the Blaze unable to maintain their intensity for the full 60 minutes.

Falcons goal shooter Jane Cook is one of the best targets in the competition, and it was truly evident in this matchup with the powerful goal shooter putting up a whopping 74 goals from 75 attempts at 99 per cent accuracy. Towering over Ruby Turner and Tayissa Coppinger, Cook utilised her height and strength to position well under the post and was assisted by both Maddie Gray and Tahnysha Salanoa while Maggie Lind propelled ball in with ease. To Turner and Coppinger’s credit, they worked in overdrive throughout with Chloe Lambert and Olivia Ellis also working hard to create turnovers and pounce on the turnover ball. But with Soli Ropati on the hunt it was to no avail with the wing defence turned centre firing on all cylinders throughout the clash and dulling the spark of Alex Moody and Ella Bayliss in the Blaze front-end. Georgia Moody had a game to remember, using her safe hands to negate the influence of ball-winner Zoe Davies, although instead it was Sarah Szczykulski who mopped up the scraps. Moody (24 goals from 30 attempts) continues to create an impressive combination with Nyah Allen (36 from 39), with the duo’s shooter to shooter interplay working wonders.

Peninsula (51) defeated by Ariels (80)

It was a hot start from the Ariels that kept them ahead of a fired-up Peninsula outfit on Wednesday night, with an 18-11 start paying off as they extended their lead at every change. While the Waves fought hard, the Ariels pulled away as the match went on with an influential defensive effort in the last term doing the trick as they ran away with a 29-goal victory.

Melbourne Vixens training partner Rahni Samason provided the goods for the Ariels with a whopping 60 goals to her name with just three misses at 96 per cent, and coupled with the 100 per cent work rate of Olivia Morris out the front with 18 goals it was an immense attacking effort which proved too strong. Waves defenders in Eliza McGuigan and Tara Cecil worked in overdrive throughout but lacked that extra bit of hunt and tenacity to put the two accurate goalers off their game, as the likes of Leah Percy and Sienna Kelly worked hard to propel ball up the court but to no avail. The combination of Monique Tarrant‘s speed and Maddison Wallmeyer‘s pinpoint feeds worked wonders for the Ariels as Dionne Douglas and Jessica Maher utilised their dogged defensive style in wing defence to limit the workrate of Kelly and Gabby Dwyer, who also took a turn in the goal circle with six goals to her name from 12 attempts. Stacie Gardiner was the topscorer for the Waves with 34 goals at a shaky 74 per cent credit to the defensive effort from Monique Clark, while Brodie Smith and Alice Paget maintained control of Georgia Hernan who finished with 11 from 12, as Maher also had a run in goal defence.

Picture credit: Netball Photos