The City West Falcons produced one of the quarters of the Victorian Netball League season to take another step closer to the grand final.
The Falcons faced Boroondara Express on Wednesday in a battle of one and two, and also the past two grand finals.
It couldn’t have been a much better first quarter from the Falcons, who led 12-2 early.
At 22-6 at quarter time, the match was all but done.
The Express showed some fight in the second and third quarters with the margin still 18 goals at three quarter time.
The Falcons finished off strongly to win 72-48.
Falcons coach Marg Lind said the first quarter was definitely not what they were expecting.
She said they had been waiting for finals for a number of weeks, having locked in top spot weeks ago.
“We just went for it,” Lind said. “That set us up.
“They were pretty much error free, converted off every turnover which made a lot of difference.
“We did a lot of homework on the opposition, been prepping for a while and it paid off.”
Lind said they know there’s a lot of pressure on them and was pleased to see the playing group stand up to that pressure.
The Express fought back in the middle two quarters which Lind thought would happen.
She said they were still happy with how they played the middle two quarters.
“I think we did a good job defensively adjusting to their patterns,” she said. “They also switched a few players in and did a bit of prep on all of them.
“We switched up quickly which we haven’t done against them and in attack we moved the ball really well.”
With the margin blown out, the Falcons rotated some players around with Chelsea Imansani and Lucia Fauonuku coming on and doing well.
Lind said they were mindful that it was a longer finals series.
Jane Cook shot 55 goals for the Falcons, before getting a rest late in the game.
The Falcons 23 and under side upset the Hawks in their elimination final, 55-51.
Lind said they got off a good start and were in front, which they hadn’t been against the Hawks this season.
“We were pretty steady,” she said. “They did respond but they did a lot of homework on them and we tidied up a few things in our attack and they definitely helped.”
Lind said she thought Lani Fauonuku, who shot 37 goals, played well and Liv Powell got involved when it really counted.
Lind said they just focused on taking it one week and a time and chipping away.
The championship side will now face the Hawks for a spot in a grand final next week, with a double chance.
Lind said the Hawks, who only lost by two goals last time they played, were a good aggressive team.
The 23 and under side will face Melbourne University Lightning in a knockout semi final.
