By Tara Murray
City West Falcons finals hopes received a boost when they knocked off top side Hawks Netball in the Victorian Netball League championship division.
With every match a must-win for the Falcons, the result is vital in the context of their season.
The Falcons jumped out of the blocks and led by seven goals at quarter-time.
They extended the lead at every break to go on to win 63-46.
Falcons coach Marg Lind said it was a good performance.
“We can’t afford to lose now,” she said. “We were fortunate they didn’t have Kim Commane and they had a younger attacking end.
“The first few minutes were sloppy, but then we looked good and it took the pressure off us.
“We kept the foot down.”
The Falcons shot at a massive 95 per cent accuracy for the match.
Lind said it was an even performance from the side, with no standouts as the group worked well as a unit.
She said it was good to finally have a few weeks in a row with their best line-up.
For much of the season, the Falcons have been without several key players because of higher netball commitments.
“It’s still a young line-up,” Lind said.
“It’s a shame we haven’t had this group for a couple more weeks.
“They’re getting better each week.”
The result moves the Falcons back into the top four, percentage ahead of DC North East Blaze.
The Blaze faces bottom side Selkirk Sovereigns this week, while the Falcons face sixth-placed Peninsula Waves.
If both Blaze and City West win, it sets up a virtual elimination final when the two sides meet in the final round.
Lind said they weren’t looking any further ahead than this week.
“We’re good enough, it’ll depend on the concentration level. We have to sustain it for 60 minutes of netball.”
She said a loss this week could end their chances, with the Waves likely to get a percentage boost
All three Falcons sides had wins against the Hawks.
The division 1 side defeated the Hawks 42-35.
The Falcons sit fifth, two games outside the top four and still a mathematical chance of making finals.
The under-19 side also sits fifth, but only a game outside the top four. They defeated the Hawks, 62-46.
Lind said having the ANL players back was having a ripple affect across the three sides and they were seeing good results.
She said the club was thrilled to have all three teams still in the finals mix at this stage of the season.
