There was a common theme across the results of Round 10 of the Victorian Netball League, and it was the higher ranked side recording small wins over their opponents.

In other results, things really went according to ladder position, but were nail biters. The City West Falcons were too strong for the Hawks, while the Southern Saints proved too strong for Casey.

Things were not so tight in the top three match of the round though. It was also not the milestone game Tayissa Coppinger would have wanted, as her North East Blaze went down to the Geelong Cougars for the second time this season.

Despite Geelong getting the first goal of the match, it was the Blaze who got off to the better start, with Georgia Moody and Nyah Allen working well together to ensure the Blaze had a two goal lead. 

The Cougars were able to break back about halfway through the quarter to draw things level again, but the Blaze broke again the very next centre to re-establish their lead. 

Zanna Woods’ accurate shooting meant the Cougars were able to peg the lead back a bit, so at quarter time they were only one goal behind.  

It did not take too long into the second quarter for the Cougars to peg back the lead and take the lead for themselves.

As the Cougars’ shooters Woods and Julia Woolley were gaining confidence, the Blaze shooters seemed to be losing the confidence they displayed in the first and suddenly the margin was out to four goals in Geelong’s’ favour.

Geelong continued to gain more and more control over the match as the quarter went on, and by the time the half time siren went, the margin was out to nine goals in the Cougars’ favour.

The Blaze got the better start in the third and bridged the gap back slightly, but the Cougars regained control and extended their lead out even further then what the margin was at half time.

Some errant passing from the Blaze up forward certainly did not help their case and it was beginning to look very tough for them to get back into the match.

At three quarter time the margin was 11 goals in favour of a very comfortable looking Cougars.

The Cougars came out after the final change and really put their foot down and ran away with the match. For North East, scoring dried up as much as bushland after a blaze, and so could not get back into a position to compete on the scoreboard for the win.

VNL CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 10 RESULTS

North East Blaze (44) lost to Geelong Cougars (61)
City West Falcons (59) defeated Hawks Netball (54)
Southern Saints (67) defeated Casey Demons (62)
Melbourne University Lightning vs. Boroondara Express
Peninsula Waves vs. Ariels