NORTH East Blaze has stormed to their second consecutive win to start the 2022 Victorian Netball League (VNL) season, coming from behind to run over the top of Boroondara Express by 11 goals last night. In what was in many ways was a game of two halves, the Blaze found themselves down by as much as six goals at one stage, but drew level at half-time and then stormed home in the second half to win, 61-50.

NORTH EAST BLAZE 13 | 17 | 15 | 16 (61)
BOROONDARA EXPRESS 16 | 14 | 9 | 11 (50)

North East Blaze headed into the clash as strong favourites having come off an impressive four-goal win over City West Falcons the week before, whilst Boroondara Express suffered a 22-goal defeat at the hands of Melbourne University Lightning. Though the Blaze had the first centre pass and goal through Collingwood training partner Nyah Allen, it was not long before the express – through the work of Casey Adamson – forced a turnover in the defensive third and quickly raced out to a 4-2 lead. Whilst Ruby Barkmeyer was the headline act in the Express shooting circle, fellow training partner Sienna Allen was keeping a close eye on her, and Stephanie Gory stepped up to deliver some terrific shooting.

The centre battle between Chloe Lambert and Taylah Brown was fascinating, but the defensive pressure of Adamson, and the work of Sophie Shoebridge in goal defence, allowed the Express to get a number of turnovers and rebounds after a rare miss from Nyah Allen. At one stage the lead got out to six goals with the Express up 14-8, but then a couple of misses late in the term opened the door for the Blaze. They scored five of the last seven goals to cut the deficit to three at the first change, with Barkmeyer just missing one on the whistle.

The dynamic Meg Williams came onto wing attack, and Kaitlyn Black into wing defence for the Blaze, and that had an immediate impact. The midcourt seemed to flow more smoothly, and though Shoebridge provided good pressure, the composure from Nyah Allen was allowing her and Georgia Moody to sink them from anywhere in the circle. Abby Williams came in for Brown in centre, but the Blaze kept lightning up the court with a couple of late misses from Gory in the final 90 seconds opening the door for Nyah Allen to level the scores and the teams headed into half-time at 30 goals apiece.

Alex Moody joined her sister Georgia on the court for the second half, as the third term belonged to the Blaze. In an outstanding five minute purple patch, they had scored eight goals to one and lead 39-31. Nyah Allen and Georgia Moody were on top of their opponents, as the Blaze forced turnover after turnover and the Express became more frantic with their ball movement to try and get back on top. Black moved into goal defence and was clearly a star in the second half, though a rare miss from Nyah Allen in the final few minutes saw the lead cut back to as little as four goals, but the Blaze held firm to score three of the last four goals and take a six-goal advantage into the final term.

Though the Express did their best to try and get back – they cut it to a four-goal deficit at one stage – that third quarter blitz to start the second half was ultimately the difference. Black took a number of good intercepts in the term, with Lambert returning to centre and the Blaze securing the midcourt. In the end, despite it being a tight game for the best part of three and a bit quarters, the Blaze scored four of the last five goals to put the icing on the cake and run out 11-goal winners.

In other results, Melbourne University Lightning joined North East Blaze as the other side to pick up two victories from two matches so far with a nail-biting two-goal victory over Hawks Netball to sentence the brown and gold to consecutive losses. Southern Saints also remained undefeated with a 10-goal win over Peninsula Waves, whilst Casey Demons bounced back from their Round 1 loss to post a 12-goal victory over Ariels. The final game of the round will take place on Sunday when Geelong Cougars look to remain undefeated from two games, taking on City West Falcons.

VNL CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 2 RESULTS:

Melbourne University Lightning (50) defeated Hawks Netball (48)
Casey Demons (59) defeated Ariels (47)
Southern Saints (57) defeated Peninsula Waves (47)
North East Blaze (61) defeated Boroondara Express (50)
Geelong Cougars vs. City West Falcons (to be played on Sunday)