It was a rare occurrence last Wednesday night when all three City West Falcons sides suffered losses in the Victorian Netball League.
Wins have been more the norm at the club this season, so to see all three teams bowing out was a shock.
The championship side suffered its first loss since round one, going down in a thriller to the DC North East Blaze.
The Falcons led at the first break before being held to single-figure goals in the middle two quarters, which stacked the odds against them. They trailed by nine goals at the last break, with a win appearing increasingly out of reach.
The Falcons saved their best to last – a 20-goal final term – but it was too little to late as they went down 53-51. Kath Knott shot 25 goals from 29 attempts, while Jane Cook didn’t miss a shot on her way to 22 goals.
The Falcons gave up top spot and now trail Melbourne University Lightning on percentage with four rounds to go, two games clear of third spot.
In division 1, the Falcons were left to rue a poor first quarter in the top-of-the-table clash with the Blaze.
The Blaze jumped out of the blocks for a 19-8 first quarter, leaving the Falcons to play catch-up for the rest of the game.
In fact, they got the margin back to five goals at the last break, but the lead against them proved to be too much, and they lost 47-41. Falcons’ best Tahnysha Salanoa shot 27 goals. The result doesn’t change the ladder, with the Falcons still second.
In under-19s, the Falcons lost to second placed Blaze, 40-34, after struggling to put up enough goals in the first three quarters.
The Blaze’s lead was out to double figures at the last change before the Falcons produced their best quarter of the match to reduce the margin.
The Falcons remain third on the ladder, now two games behind Blaze.
This week, the Falcons face Yarra Valley Grammar Ariels.
