WITH Round 15 of the Victorian Netball League done and dusted the Casey Demons impressed with a 34-goal victory while the Geelong Cougars staked their claim as premiership contenders with a 42-goal thrashing over Southern Saints.

Peninsula Waves (47) defeated by City West Falcons (55)

The City West Falcons continued their winning ways with an eight goal victory over the Waves who challenged for the best part of the match. It was a relatively even contest with only six goals separating both sides at half time before the Waves fought back to reduce the margin to five. But the Falcons built on their lead in the fourth term using their connections down the court and precision passing to register their fifteenth win. The Falcons welcomed back some integral players from Vic Fury and Tasmanian Magpies duties with the likes of Jane Cook, Jacqui Newton and Tahnysha Salanoa back in the side. Cook found the net with ease nailing plenty of goals for the game while Salanoa also made her impact felt on the scoreboard. The Waves were not without star power with the likes of Renae Ingles making her presence felt on the court switching between centre and wing defence. Ingles paired well with both Madison Capisalis and Sara Duncan in the midcourt hitting the circle edge with ease and precision. Peninsula shooters Stacie Gardener and Gabrielle Dwyer combined well together in the goal circle creating good space for one another throughout the match.

Casey Demons (75) defeated Ariels (41)

The Casey Demons put out an impressive four quarter performance piling on a whopping 20 goals both in the first and third term showcasing their ability to score quickly and accurately. The movement down court was effortless finding good space and using the angles to nullify the influence of defenders to come through and intercept. After a stellar performance in the Australian Netball League grand final Emma Ryde continued her hot form under the post using her height and netball knowledge to position well under the post and command the ball time and time again throughout the match. Meanwhile Erin Bell also displayed her netball nous to deliver the ball well into Ryde and make her presence felt on the scoreboard dominating the shooting stats. Defensively the likes of Jane Higgs, Jessica Maher and Shae Kyle struggled for the Ariels with the trio unable to limit the influence of Ryde and Bell to post. Though the defensive end struggled shooters Alex Maher and Beth Wilson worked tirelessly under the post trying to make the most of their limited opportunities but it was to no avail. Demi Woodlock was a lynchpin in defence for the Demons gaining possession and then propelling the ball forward with Karli Foster also doing a wealth of work in the defensive circle.

Hawks Netball (52) drew with Melbourne University Lightning (52)

It was a tight contest between the two sides unable to be separated marking the second draw of the season. Lightning held the lead at each change before the Hawks mounted a timely comeback to split the points. Both teams oozed intensity and desperation going toe to toe throughout the game unable to properly break away from one another. After spending time with Team Bath in the Vitality Super Netball League Kim Commane made her presence felt on the court for the Hawks. Her dynamic movement and accuracy to post makes her a force to be reckoned with finishing with an impressive total for the game. Wing attack Tayla Kearns was a real work horse across the court creating leads and consistently re-offering around the circle edge while centres Enya Broadley and Lillian O’Sullivan were imperative through the midcourt.

North East Blaze (65) defeated Boroondara Express (53)

North East Blaze got off to a hot start skipping out to a 15-goal lead at half-time credit to their clever ball movement and intent to win the ball at every opportunity. They were clinical in attack with Elizabeth Nicol once again leading the way with her clever body positioning, strong holds and most importantly accuracy to post. Express welcomed back some key experienced players such as Vixen and Victorian Fury midcourter Lara Dunkley along with Rudi Ellis and Eleanor Leydin while Elle McDonald also returned for Blaze. Dunkley was strong through the midcourt hustling hard to claim prime spot at the top of the goal circle while pairing with Leydin to try and feed the ball into goal shooter Clare Vearing who did a wealth of work in the goal circle. The midcourt of Ella Bayliss and McDonald worked well for Blaze with the two feeding the ball accurately into Nicol and Sarah Hogan. Defensively Tayissa Coppinger and Kaitlyn Black did a truckload of work to reduce the ease and speed of the ball coming into the circle allowing Blaze to control the game and come away with their twelfth win for the season.

Geelong Cougars (72) defeated Southern Saints (29)

The Geelong Cougars put on an absolute clinic against the Saints keeping them to a mere 29 goals and piling on a whopping 72 goals themselves. The Cougars were hot right from the get go slicing through the opposition defence and working their way into the goal circle with ease. The Cougars restricted the Saints to just six goals in the opening term credit to the defensive pressure applied by the likes of Brooke Allan, Victoria Honner and Jessica Standfield. The three rotated well through the goal circle to deny easy access to goal while Melissa Bragg showcased her versatility switching between wing defence and wing attack. Vanessa Augustini had a field day through the midcourt finding plenty of space and feeding into Ruby Horton, Julia Woolley and Bridgette Furphy who all made their presence well and truly made on the scoreboard credit to their solid connections and ability to consistently exploit space in the goal third. On the other hand, the Saints really struggled to move the ball and combat the pressure applied by the Cougars who just smothered their every action, picking off passes and blocking their passage to goal. With Geelong picking holes in the Saints defence plenty of changes were made with Shannon Freeman, Stephanie McNay, Anna Donnelly and Kirsty Clark all getting a run down back.