Tara Murray
The City West Falcons nutted out a hard fought win against the Hawks in the Victorian Netball League on Wednesday night.
Having lost the first matchup between the sides, the Falcons were keen to get one back this time round as they start the second round of matchups.
The Falcons would do enough in the last quarter to seal the 59-54 win.
Falcons coach Marg Lind said it wasn’t the best performance they had ever put out on the court, but was happy to take the win.
“It was a lot of up and down the court,” she said. “It wasn’t until the last quarter that we were able to get the flow going.
“It was a really good matchup for us. The first time we played them we caved too easily, so it was a gutsy win by us.
“The Hawks would have been disappointed not to win, as they played well for three quarters.”
Lind said the key to them getting on top in the last quarter was being more patient in attack.
She said they used the circle edge a lot better and made it easier for goal shooter Jane Cook to get the ball, as they were giving too many chances for her opponent to the win the ball.
Lind said wing defence Soli Ropati had a really good start to the last quarter which helped.
“We were going to take Soli off and put on Lucia [Fauonuku] at three quarter time,” she said.
“In hindsight we made the right call and kept faith in her. Soli couldn’t get an intercept all game and there was a three minute period where she got two or three.
“That changed the vibe, after struggling to turn ball over.”
The Falcons had their whole squad available for a rare time this year, with both Collingwood Super Netball players Maggie Lind and Jacqui Newton both taking the court.
While they had their whole squad, Lind said they were a bit more conservative with their rotations with so much on the line.
She said Montana Holmes was the standout especially in the second half, keeping her foot to the pedal all night.
Lind said Uneeq Palavi continues to improve playing at goal attack. She played most of the game there on Wednesday, with Maddy Gray still feeling the effects of the flu.
The Falcons sit second on the ladder, two games behind the Geelong Cougars.
Lind said the win gives them more scope going forward.
“All three ladders are tight,” she said. “We can’t afford to slip up.”
The Falcons division 1 side also had a good win on Wednesday night, turning around their early season loss.
The Falcons won 48-41 and sit third on the ladder.
The under-19s missing two key players lost 61-47.They slipped from first to fourth.
The Falcons this week face the North East Blaze.
In their first match up, the Blaze got the win in the championship division.
Lind said they would take a different approach this time.
