City West Falcons haven’t lost often in recent times but Boroondara Express has had the wood on them in the Victorian Netball League championship division.
Express defeated the Falcons in last year’s grand final and then won the grand final rematch in round one this year.
On Wednesday night, though, the Falcons turned the tables on Express and in the process took their winning streak to nine games this season.
The Falcons began slowly before hitting their straps late in the second quarter.
After trailing by three goals at half-time, the Falcons upped the level again in the second half and went on to win 55-45.
Coach Marg Lind said her side was better for playing Express for a second time.
“The first time we played them, we were pretty ordinary,” she said. “We had a few new players and they needed to establish themselves in the team. We were a lot better the second time around.”
Lind said her players started slowly on Wednesday night.
“They got out to a five or six-goal lead towards the end of the first quarter and early in the second.
“We brought Kath Knott on at the quarter- time break to help stabilise the side.”
The Falcons’ intensity lifted in the second half and an 18-6 goal third quarter changed the game.
“We didn’t feel like we were getting enough from Jules [Julia Woolley] and Maggie [coach Lind’s daughter]. The work rate lifted off the line and they worked really hard defensively and started to get turnovers,” Lind said.
“We brought Jane [Cook] back on, having watched what Kath did in the second quarter.”
Cook scored 33 goals at 92 per cent accuracy in three quarters of netball.
Lind said the starting of Cook over Knott wasn’t to do with form but “looking at the different options”.
Cook, who came into the championship side after playing in division 1 last year, was recently named in the Australian under-21 squad. Lind said making the move from Albury Wodonga to Melbourne after finishing school had helped with Cook’s netball development.
“Kath is playing really well and polling really well,” Lind said. “Jane is six-foot-seven [200cm]and has been in and out of the side with ANL [Australian Netball League] commitments.
“At times we’ll go with Kath and at times we’ll go with Jane.”
The win keeps the Falcons second on the ladder, behind Melbourne University Lightning, and two games clear of Express.
