AFTER COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols forced North East Blaze bookend twins Nyah Allen and Sienna Allen to step up to the elite level, the furthest north side will be focused on bouncing back against Hawks Netball in Round 6 of the Victorian Netball League (VNL) Championship division.

North East blazed away to wins in the opening two rounds of the season against City West Falcons and Boroondara Express, before falling to the steam train that was Geelong Cougars in Round 3. A bounce back win against Ariels by nine goals gave the Blaze more confidence, but without the Allen sisters last week, they struggled to go with Casey Demons after a spirited first 20 minutes.

Hawks Netball recruited possibly the biggest name to enter the VNL for the first time in former West Coast Fever and Melbourne Vixens shooter Kaylia Stanton. Unfortunately they copped the Cougars first up and were on the end of a 25-goal beating in Round 1, then had a spirited defeat by two goals to the side that is right up with the Cougars in title contenders, Melbourne University Lightning. Surviving thrillers against Boroondara Express and City West Falcons in Round 3-4 got the Hawks back on track, with those two-goal wins releasing the pressure gauge, only to go down to the Southern Saints in Round 5.

Heading into the match, both sides are coming off those losses, and at full strength, the battle between Stanton and Sienna Allen at one end promises to be a ripping contest. The defensive unit of the Hawks will need to be on point, with the likes of Kelsey Buxton and Chloe Sinclair able to intercept as well as remain accountable in the front half. That will be important given the form of Blaze wing attack Meg Williams who has been slicing up opposition defences.

Though plenty of attention will rightfully be on Stanton, Tayla Shannon could provide the X-factor by worrying the opposition defences with unpredictability. Having Kaitlyn Black as the other Blaze defender does not make life any easier for the Hawks, whilst Georgia Moody‘s form in wing attack is as good as anyone’s which is where Sinclair will need to shut down on here. With captain Tayissa Coppinger able to guide the Blaze throughout the games with strong leadership, the Hawks will need to start strong and not let up if they are to upset the Blaze who at full strength, look like a title contender.

ROUND 6 FIXTURES: April 27

Casey Demons vs. Boroondara Express
Melbourne University Lightning vs. Ariels
City West Falcons vs. Southern Saints
Hawks Netball vs. North East Blaze
Peninsula Waves vs. Geelong Cougars