THE clash between City West Falcons and VU Lightning didn’t pan out the way Falcons coach Marg Lind expected.
When these two teams met previously in a local derby, it was a tough, hard-fought encounter with the Lightning winning by three goals.
Lind was expecting much of the same. Instead, her team ran out easy winners, 60-28.
“We were expecting the worst, after the last time we played. We were expecting them to come out really physical and have a good start to the match.
“We warmed up with the very good intention of not letting them get a break on us like last time.”
Instead it was the Falcons who came out of the blocks with a 21-8 first quarter, on the back of their shooters’ accuracy.
“One hundred per cent [accuracy] in the first quarter really set us up and it was high through the match.”
The margin allowed Lind to give all 10 players court time.
She said it was a luxury to start former Lightning captain Danni Stewart on the bench.
“Danni adds a lot of drive and is fairly tough. We have a number of players who can give us different midcourt options.”
Goalkeeper Peta Fay was named best on court, with Kathleen Knott scoring 47 goals from 51 attempts.
For the Lightning, the team’s shooting percentage was in the low 60s.
Goal attack Sophie Barr failed to score in the first term and spent the rest of the match on the bench.
The win cements the Falcons’ top spot on the ladder ahead of a clash with North East Blaze.
The Lightning next take on UB Ballarat Pride.
