MELBOURNE Vixens recorded their fifth win of the season credit to a blistering third quarter performance against GIANTS Netball that saw them turn on the afterburners in attack and bring it home in the final term (63-58). The five goal win sees them reclaim top spot on the ladder and prime them nicely for the rest of the season.

The GIANTS skipped out to an early lead winning ball off the Vixens centre pass to apply early scoreboard pressure and prove that they came to play. They managed three goals to zero in the opening minutes of the quarter thanks to their impressive defensive work to shut down the attacking flow of the Vixens. However that was shortly lived as the Melbourne based side kicked it up a gear to force the GIANTS to labour in attack. Jo Weston and Emily Mannix were the key contributors clogging up each of the GIANTS options and smothering their every movement to create a held ball call.

It was a very scrappy start to the game with both sides throwing ball over the sideline and struggling to find any continuity across the court As they went blow for blow throughout the opening stanza. Tegan Philip struggled to inject her normal clean gameplay fumbling a wealth of passes meaning it was up to Caitlin Thwaites to do all of the heavy lifting under the post for the Vixens. The effort of Weston continued throughout the term covering youngster Kiera Austin on every one of her drives and nullifying her influence both inside the goal circle and in play in general. The Melbourne Vixens managed to take the lead for the first time at the seven minute mark and extending the buffer to two goals after capitalising on errant passes from the GIANTS. Despite being well worn by Weston, Austin nailed the first super shot of the game before Philip returned serve with a super shot of her own to keep that two goal buffer. The GIANTS were persistent in defence slicing the margin to just one goal at the break..

GIANTS levelled the score within the first 30 seconds of the quarter but once again the Vixens pushed back out to that two goal buffer. Every single pass was hotly contested with hands over pressure and physicality aplenty stemming from both sides as they looked to pull away but simply could not. Jamie-Lee Price showcased her strength and good hustle around circle edge to win ball back for her side as the lead continued to see-saw as the GIANTS hit the front around the nine minute mark. With the level of intensity increasing players threw their bodies across the court to try and regain possession with Kate Eddy and Austin getting hands to ball through the centre. After somewhat of a controversial week Kristiana Manu’a plied her trade working in overdrive to pressure Philip both over the shot and through general play to create turnovers galore.

Both teams were going toe-to-toe before the GIANTS started to press creating a three goal lead thanks to Jo Harten dictating play in the goal circle and proving that she was not afraid to drive out and then double back under the post to score. Austin started to really come alive finding her rhythm, especially from the super shot range, while Thwaites was happy to just let the scoreboard tick over and back herself from close range. The GIANTS midcourt stepped it up a gear with Amy Parmenter and Price doing a mountain load of work in the second term to shut down Liz Watson and Kate Moloney’s drive to circle edge. The entire defensive unit from the GIANTS lifted throughout the term establishing a handy five goal lead at half time.

The Melbourne Vixens came out of half time firing on all cylinders with the injection of Mwai Kumwenda doing wonders for the Vixens in attack and catching the GIANTS off guard. The move pushed Thwaites out into goal attack, however she seemed unfazed as the goaler continued her merry way and found space across the court to ply her trade. Vixens steadily worked their way back into the contest to reduce the lead from five goals to three in the early stages of the quarter with their patient and cautious approach paying off. The unchanged line-up in attack for the GIANTS continued to motor as Harten and Austin combined seamlessly to create a moving circle.

The influence of Kumwenda was evident with the Malawian goaler having her way against Sam Poolman under the post and making use of her aerial abilities and long split to edge closer to the post. Up the other end Maddie Hay showcased her impressive vision and confidence to deliver ball into Harten and Austin with great ease but the Vixens were determined to hunt down everything that came their way to get back to within two goals. A timeout called from the GIANTS saw the Vixens come out as the beneficiaries with the first goal as both sides made a couple of positional changes in hope to claim some ascendancy. Eddy slotted into goal defence while Harten and Austin swapped bibs but the Vixens had a real pep in their step to not only level the scores but take the lead. Melbourne got out to a four goal lead but back-to-back super shots from Austin allowed the GIANTS to be on level peggings again. the final five minutes turned into a super shot shoot out with nine shots taken from both sides and not a miss between them, however it was the Vixens who held a narrow two goal lead.

Holding a two goal lead the Vixens pushed out to a four goal buffer and controlled the flow for majority of the term with their composure on full display. Watson and Moloney both elevated their game through the midcourt as the movement in the circle continued to cause headaches for the GIANTS defenders. Fatigue seemed to start to take its toll on the GIANTS and despite a late comeback it was the Vixens who flexed their muscles to take home a five goal win.

Austin was prolific for the GIANTS throughout the game recording 22 goals from 25 attempts and only missing one super shot for the match with eight from nine attempts. Harten was down on her usual volume with 17 goals from 22 attempts at 77 per cent. For the Vixens, Kumwenda seemed to have the magic touch with 25 goals, three of them super shots, while the ever reliable Thwaites starred with 23 goals straight inside the one-point zone. Eddy was influential in defence amassing two intercepts, five deflections and two rebounds while Moloney secured player of the match honours thanks to her 14 goal assists and two gains.

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>>> GIANTS TEAM PAGE
>>> FULL MATCH STATS

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Melbourne Vixens 15 | 11 | 24 | 13 (63)
GIANTS Netball 14 | 17 | 17 | 10 (58)

STARTING SEVEN

Melbourne Vixens:

GS: Caitlin Thwaites
GA: Tegan Philip
WA: Liz Watson
C: Kate Moloney
WD: Kate Eddy
GD: Jo Weston
GK: Emily Mannix

GIANTS Netball:

GS: Jo Harten
GA: Kiera Austin
WA: Maddie Hay
C: Jamie-Lee Price
WD: Amy Parmenter
GD: Kristiana Manu’a
GK: Sam Poolman