Tara Murray
For the City West Falcons it was just about getting the win in the Victorian Netball League on Wednesday.
Their first game back after lockdown, the Falcons and their opponents the Hawks, didn’t put on the prettiest display as they got rid of some rust.
The Falcons gained a lead early in the first quarter and were able to build on it throughout, winning 62-45.
Falcons coach Marg Lind said the focus for the night was to just get back out on the court.
Lind said the Hawks were a side that really fights hard and always pushed them.
“I wouldn’t say that it was the best netball,” she said.
“We didn’t have many court sessions back on the court after lockdown and we definitely weren’t at our prime.
“We got the win, but there were some obvious things that we needed to work through.”
Lind said one key for them was making sure they had fresh legs throughout, meaning plenty of rotations.
She said they got to have a look at most players in their best two positions, which was good for the side going forward.
Lind said the umpires would have had a hard time giving out the votes, with no one really standing out.
“Maggie [Lind] played a good second quarter, Soli [Ropati] had a good third quarter and Jane [Cook] had a solid first quarter.
“Individuals at key moments keep the team going. I had no idea who the best was.”
The win keeps the Falcons undefeated and in a prime stop for a finals berth.
The Falcons have two games and a bye left before finals with the final game scrapped due to the latest lockdown. The fate of one of those matches against Geelong Cougars remains uncertain, with Victoria heading into another lockdown.
It’s unknown whether that match will be cancelled or postponed.
Speaking before the announcement of the lockdown, Lind said she was looking to the match, against the side they drew with in round one.
“We’ll look to try a few things and not put all our cards on the table.”
The Falcons division 1 and under-19 sides both had wins against the Hawks.
The division 1 team won a thriller 57-55 and the under-19 team won 44-43.
Lind said both sides were still in finals contention.
“The division 1 team is sitting in fourth after the win while the under-19s beat the second team.
“They are sitting around fourth or fifth, with any team in that competition can win it.
“As a club we’re pretty happy with where we are at.”
