IN a top-of-the-table clash it was the Sunshine Coast Lightning that claimed victory by one goal over the Melbourne Vixens (55-56). Both teams tussled hard to find their feet early and build some momentum throughout the match with the Vixens settling first but the Lightning did not back down silencing the Melbourne crowd.

Despite an early miss the Vixens got off to a hot start piling on 17 goals to 11. The Melbourne Vixens had a real point to prove using the angles well across the court and slicing through the Lightning defence. Caitlin Thwaites did not repeat her form of last week finding the net quickly and with ease slotting nine goals straight in the opening quarter showcasing her sheer skill and clever footwork in the goal circle. The Lightning looked rattled in attack throwing away plenty of ball credit to the work of Emily Mannix and Jo Weston controlling the space and flow across the court. Cara Koenen got the start once again and built into the game finding good rhythm in attack thanks to her clever drives and strong holds under the post but Mannix made her fight for every pass, contesting every passage of play and forcing her out of the circle. Vixens opened up a five goal lead midway through the quarter forcing the Lightning to call a timeout which was closely followed by a raft of changes in the attacking third with Koenen moving out to goal attack and Peace Proscovia making her way onto the court in goal shooter. But it was to no avail with the Vixens claiming the first bonus point of the game after prevailing through a couple of scrappy minutes late in the term.

Lightning started with the centre pass but quickly threw it away with Mannix taking an early intercept sending the ball back down the court with ease, speed and precision. Both Karla Pretorius and Phumza Maweni lifted their intensity in the defensive third with the two combining well and creating turnovers but were not rewarded down the other end. Meanwhile, Maddy McAuliffe took a huge intercept flying across the court but was quickly answered by opposing wing defence Renae Ingles who simply could not be stopped. Laura Scherian failed to have an impact with the speedy wing attack unable to unleash her crafty passes credit to Ingles’ smothering pressure. Up the other end, Melbourne Vixens continued their merry way with Liz Watson and Thwaites completely dominating. Watson showcased her speed, impressive ball placement and vision into the circle to control the attacking third for the Vixens and provide them with easy avenue into the circle. The Vixens got out to a 10-goal lead midway through the term before the Lightning pegged their way back into the contest. With 30 seconds left in the quarter, Pretorius produced a timely tip in the circle to gather possession and stream down the court resulting in a Proscovia goal to level the quarter scores at 14 apiece.

Up by six goals at half-time, the Vixens were determined to keep their hot form rolling, while the Lightning came out with a real presence. Wood returned to the goal attack position bringing Scherian into the game with her clever movement and ball placement. She brought a real sense of urgency and intensity demanding the ball and creating plays in the attacking third but was equally matched by Tegan Philip up the other end who is in arguably career best form. Weston inserted herself into the match contesting every ball and double teaming Proscovia in the circle to claim timely deflections while the work of Kate Moloney lifted across the court. Moloney showcased her leadership, composure and vision to deliver well weighted passes into Thwaites and Philip while remaining a strong presence up the defensive end for the Vixens. The battle between Moloney and Laura Langman intensified as the game went on with both centres going toe to toe. Langman was a real lynchpin across the court for the Lightning credit to her strength and athleticism. Pretorius got a timely intercept tracking the ball exceptionally well at ground level to draw her side to back within five but the Lightning were not done with yet, with Maweni taking a huge intercept in the dying minute of the game and propelling the ball back down the court to not only win their first bonus point of the game but draw them back to within four goals heading into the final change.

With the game delicately poised, both sides left nothing on the court with the Vixens bringing on fan favourite Mwai Kumwenda. Pretorius took a huge intercept in the opening minute but Maweni showed anything you can do I can do better with an outrageous intercept taking the ball at full flight and coping the contact to propel the ball back down the court. With scores all tied up the Melbourne Vixens called a timeout with 12 minutes forcing both sides to wrestle for the momentum. The Vixens settled first out of the break nailing two consecutive goals to create a handy buffer. Kumwenda failed to have an impact under the ring missing a couple of goals under the post gifting the Lightning with turnover ball. Lightning edged out in front with the lead ebbing and flowing the in the final five minutes of the game. With 20 seconds left in the match, Wood ended the Vixens hopes by slotting a midrange goal on the whistle.

STARTING LINE-UP:

Melbourne Vixens:

GS | Caitlin Thwaites
GA | Tegan Philip
WA | Liz Watson
C | Kate Moloney
WD | Renae Ingles
GD | Jo Weston
GK | Emily Mannix

Sunshine Coast Lightning:

GS | Cara Koenen
GA | Steph Wood
WA | Laura Scherian
C | Laura Langman
WD | Maddy McAuliffe
GD | Karla Pretorius
GK | Phumza Maweni