Vixens make it five straight wins in Super Netball
Steve Barrett |
The Melbourne Vixens have shaken off a slow start to notch their fifth consecutive Super Netball victory, downing Sunshine Coast Lightning 68-65 at UniSC Arena.
The Vixens seized control by going 38-24 across the middle two terms on Saturday before surviving a late rally to leapfrog the Lightning into third place on the ladder.
“Stoked with how we came out after the first quarter,” said Vixens goal attack Kiera Austin, who was named player of the match after racking up 23 goals and 19 assists from 20 feeds.
“We adjusted how we were playing and built a really good lead.
“Pretty disappointed in the last little bit there, but they’re a really classy team, so I’m not surprised that they came back at us.”
It was all the Lightning early.
Captain Steph Fretwell and fellow shooter Reilly Batcheldor – starting in place of injured Cara Koenen (foot) – went at 100 per cent to open up a 20-16 quarter-time lead.
Melbourne turned the tables in the second term, emphatically, cutting off Sunshine Coast’s attacking options and scoring clinically at the other end.
Austin was dynamic in attack, while skipper Kate Moloney controlled the centre as the Vixens won the quarter 21-11 to move ahead 37-31 at half-time.
The Lightning rang in the changes to their ragged backcourt to start the second half – including Ash Ervin subbing in for Tara Hinchliffe, who was being toweled up by Austin – but the Vixens continued to find holes through the home side’s defence.
Jo Weston led a stingy Melbourne defence, while the turnovers continued to mount for Sunshine Coast, who fell behind by 10 with a quarter to play
After the fourth period had been goal-for-goal, the Vixens sprinted away 67-55 late before Fretwell went on a solo two-point rampage.
She drilled five super shots in just over three minutes to close the contest on an individual 10-1 run, eroding the deficit significantly but never seriously threatening the inevitable result.
AAP
