ROUND 6 of the Victorian Netball League brought plenty of excitement and close shaves. A couple of ladder-defining battles kept players and spectators on the edge of their seats as two matches were decided by less than five goals highlighting the high calibre of action on display.

North East Blaze (53) defeated Southern Saints (51)

The Blaze just snuck over the line against Southern Saints on Wednesday night claiming a narrow two goal win. Blaze got the lead early in the first quarter and did not look like relenting that, steadily extending their margin to six goals by half time. An improved third term from the Southern Saints saw them cull the margin to three goals at three quarter time after they piled on 18 goals in that term alone. The final quarter went down right down to the wire as both sides worked gallantly in attack and defence to win back the loose ball but in the end it was the Blaze that ran away with the win.

The shooting combination of Georgia Moody and Nyah Allen was on song as the two frequently changed bibs from goal shooter to goal attack but did not skip a beat. Moody managed 17 goals from 19 attempts at 90 per cent while Allen was the most prolific goaler out on court for the Blaze thanks to her 25 goals from 28 attempts. Throw in the likes of Abigail Gedge who was handy in at goal shooter and the Blaze were unstoppable when they got the ball in hand in the goal circle despite the best work of Lyshae Barry and Stephanie McNay. Through the midcourt the battle was tense as Kali Dolphin and Alana McGurgan went head to head. Inside the circle for the Saints, the dominant pairing of Ella Quinlan and Sinead Lumsden was causing all sorts of trouble as the pair only missed a combined seven goals as Quinlan slotted 20 at 91 per cent and Lumsden walked away with 23 goals from 27 attempts.

Hawks Netball (66) defeated Peninsula (44)

It was all one way traffic for the Hawks as they defeated peninsula waves by 22 goals. The Hawks controlled momentum from the opening quarter establishing an eight goal lead and did not look like letting up as the game went on. Piling on 16 goals in the second term and keeping their opponents to 10 allowed them to create a handy lead at half time. The Hawks continued that momentum into the second half with their best quarter coming last as they added 20 goals to their margin while limiting Peninsula Waves to just 14.

It was a battle of the goal shooters as Nat Billings got to work for the Hawks and Clare Vearing plied her trade for the Waves. In the end however it came down to the added versatility and options in attack for the Hawks as Billings finished with 29 goals from 33 attempts, Tayla Shannon nailed 16 goals at 85 per cent and Daisy Hill was a pillar of strength under the post thanks to her 21 goals from 22 attempts. The midcourt delivery from Jasmine Ferguson and Alex Salter also played into their hands as they received the ball on a silver platter. Defensively the Waves had their work cut out for them as Tara Cecil, Lauren Hucker and Sussu Liai worked tirelessly to confuse the space and wreak havoc.

Geelong (42) defeated Melbourne University Lightning (47)

The tension was high from the opening whistle as the undefeated Melbourne University Lightning looked to keep their undefeated record intact – which they did – downing Geelong by five goals. It was a hotly contested battle between the two sides as they worked in overtime to win every single ball. The lightning showcase their defensive prowess keeping belong to a mere nine goals in the first quarter while pipe laying on 14 goals of their own. The Cougars upped the ante in the second term to get back within four goals before once again the lightning showcased their class to skip out to a seven goal lead at three quarter time. With it all to play for in the final term Geelong made the running early but fell away with the Lightning clamping down across the court and picking off passes at will to run out with yet another win.

Both Zanna Woods and Julia Woolley were rendered more inaccurate than we have seen in previous weeks as the pair only converted at 77 per cent credit to the impressive defensive work put out on court by both Fiona Fowler and Gabby Coffey. Woods finished with 22 goals from 29 attempts while Woolley sat at 20 goals from 26 attempts. The workrate from Vanessa Augustini, Kaitlyn Sheringham, Emily Post and Madi Browne was impressive but not enough to combat the slick movement of the Melbourne University Lightning midcourt consisting of Jordan Cransberg, Zoe Cransberg, Kelsie Rainbow and of course Shae Brown. Defensively for the Falcons Brooke Allen worked in overdrive to win every ball and contest for that high looping pass coming into the circle up against Mikaela Vaughan and Claudia Mawson but it was often to no avail. Vaughan finished with 25 goals from 38 attempts to her name while Mawson put up 22 goals of her own.

Ariels (39) defeated by Boroondara Express (60)

Boroondara Express had the upper hand from the opening quarter against the Ariels thanks to a high-scoring first quarter. Express were able to command the control of the game and looked to maintain that high level output for the remaining three quarters. Their best term came in the final quarter where they piled on 17 goals while limiting the Ariels to their lowest quarter score of nine to run out with a convincing victory.

It was the Uneeq Palavi show for Boroondara as the goal shooter showcased her strength, accuracy and sheer star power to nail 44 goals from 51 attempts at 87 per cent. Her ability to read the play and position accordingly gave Boroondara plenty of confidence as Stephanie Gorrie was able to play a handy support role thanks to her nine goals at 90 per cent. It was a different story for the Ariels as Stacey Gannon and Olivia Morris only had limited opportunities to go to post with Morris adding 14 goals to the tally thanks to the work of Michelle Massarany and Tegan Stephenson down in defence. There was no easy pass through the midcourt as Eleanor Leydin and Zali Anderson combined for Express to send the ball into attack while Dionne Douglas and Beth Chiuchiarelli put in the hard yards to quell the ball speed of Boroondara.

Casey (62) defeated by City West Falcons (64)

The final game of the round was an absolute belter as City West Falcons upset the Casey Demons as they were handed their second loss in as many weeks. It was a nice and tight first quarter as City West held the lead by three goals heading into quarter time. That margin did not change at half time as both sides were unable to wrestle any real control back from one another and continued on that goal for goal trajectory. The third quarter was much of the same before Casey made all the running in the final term to get back within two, but the Falcons’ ability to score accurately was the main difference shooting at 100 per cent in the final term.

With two tall timbers at either end it was a battle of who could be more accurate and beat their respective defender. Emma Ryde was a strong target for the Demons posting 48 goals from 55 attempts while Jane Cook showcased her class for the Falcons to be the focal point inside the circle with her impressive 57 goals from 58 attempts. Sacha McDonald was a real workhorse for the Demons credit to her work out the front and ability to back herself under the post, finishing with 14 goals. The midcourt combination of Tayla Honey and Olivia Macente was good while the Falcons partnership of Maggie Lind and Montana Holmes also proved to be electric with pinpoint feeds into the circle. Sarah Szczykulski and Melissa Oloamanu impressed down in defence for the Falcons as Sharni Lambden and Karli Foster upped the ante in down back for the Demons in what was an enthralling battle.

Picture credit: Netball Victoria