Melbourne Vixens have ceded their top-two place on the trans-Tasman netball ladder to the Queensland Firebirds after a 57-46 defeat at Hisense Arena, in their first loss at home since last year's surprise grand final result against the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic.
After three consecutive wins, the Vixens struggled to function in attack and were held to their second-lowest score of the season, behind only the 38 goals scored in the round five trip to Adelaide that had counted as their sole blemish in the opening eight weeks.
Coach Simone McKinnis tried 10 players in various combinations, but with little success, and also finished with another concern: former captain Sharelle McMahon leaving the court with what appeared to be recurring soreness in the right Achilles that sidelined the 35-year-old for rounds two and three.
Both teams wore black armbands to honour Laura Geitz's father, Ross, who died during the week after a freak accident on the family's property in the Darling Downs. But, for the second consecutive week, the Firebirds were able to win without their captain and star defender, as well as - for the most part - Diamonds midcourter Chelsea Pitman, who injured her ankle against the Thunderbirds last month, and only returned late in Sunday's game.
The Vixens never really clicked, particularly in attack, rushing their passes. They were guilty of some sloppy ball-handling at times, while the makeshift Firebirds defence was able to limit the influence of shooters Tegan Caldwell (15/19) and Karyn Howarth (27/31) - the latter preferred by coach McKinnis to last week's starting goal shooter, McMahon.
But the veteran was called upon soon enough, McMahon replacing a quiet Caldwell nine minutes into the second quarter, when the deficit had already blown out to seven goals. By the half it had been trimmed to 23-28, but there was much work still to be done.
In fact, worse was to come, with McMahon missing her first four shots of the quarter as the margin was extended to 10. Then, late in the quarter, McMahon was benched after an examination of her right Achilles tendon injury. Caldwell's reintroduction helped slightly, the score 34-41 at the last break.
But they would get no closer, with Romelda Aiken (36/41) receiving strong support from goal attack Nat Medhurst (21/26) in the first half, especially, and the result beyond doubt by the time reserve Vixens centre Kate Moloney was introduced less than halfway through the last quarter.
Now with a 6-2 record, Melbourne has slipped to third on the table behind the Firebirds and Thunderbirds (both 7-1). They host the fourth-placed Southern Steel at Hisense Arena next Monday.
- The Age
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