Melbourne Vixens’ Tegan Caldwell and Northern Mystics’s Julie Corletto scrap for the ball. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia
MELBOURNE Vixens have made a statement to the rest of the competition in their opening game of the trans-Tasman season, with a dominant 24-goal win over the Northern Mystics at Hisense Arena.
Powered by a strong shooting performance from Karyn Bailey, the Vixens outplayed a Mystics’ line-up that was expected to be much-improved this season to score a 58-34 victory.
Leading at every change, the Vixens, who bowed out in the preliminary final last year, raced away from the Mystics in a dominant third quarter when they outscored the Auckland-based team 17-6.
Vixens’ Tegan Caldwell looks to pass. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia
After starting on the bench, Bailey made an immediate impact when she was injected into the match mid-way through the second quarter in place of veteran recruit Cath Cox.
Bailey finished the match with 28 goals from 33 attempts in partnership with goal attack Tegan Caldwell (21 from 28), while Cox had 9/14 in the opening half.
Three of the Vixens’ four recruits, Cox, Liz Watson and Caitlyn Strachan, were on court in the opening match.
After getting a late call-up to the Vixens squad just last month as a replacement for Elissa Kent (nee Macleod), Watson showed how much of an impact she’d had on coach Simone McKinnis to be promoted straight into the starting line-up at centre.
It was certainly a tough initiation for the 19-year-old, lining up on the world’s best centre, Laura Langman, a veteran of 100 Tests with the Silver Ferns.
Catherine Cox Cox had 9/14 in the opening half before being replaced by Karyn Bailey. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia
Cox got the starting nod at goal shooter alongside Caldwell. In the other vacancy at wing defence, second-year midcourter Kate Moloney was given the starting bib.
After the Mystics got the first couple of goals on the board, it didn’t take long for the Vixens’ 2014 line-up to click into gear.
Back at her favoured home at goal shooter, Cox was kept busy moving in the goal circle as the Vixens set up a 17-8 lead at quarter-time.
It was a better start for the Mystics in the second quarter, with the sharp-shooting Cathrine Latu (15/20) scoring the first three goals before Caldwell got the Vixens back on the board.
After the Mystics cut the Vixens’ lead to five goals, McKinnis didn’t hesitate in switching up her line-up; bringing on Bailey at goal shooter in place of Cox, putting Madison Robinson into the centre against the always-strong Langman and shifting Watson to wing attack.
Bailey had an immediate impact, shooting seven from seven to steady the Vixens going into the half-time break, with a 28-20 advantage.
Kate Maloney gets away a flying pass for the Vixens. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia
McKinnis switched Robinson and Watson again in the midcourt for the start of the second half as the Vixens opened with the first six goals.
As the ever-dependable defensive duo of Bianca Chatfield and Geva Mentor started to assert their authority over Latu and Maria Tutaia (16/27), the Vixens pulled away in a dominant third quarter to take a 45-26 lead into the last break. It was not until late in the third quarter that Bailey missed a goal.
Rookie midcourter Strachan was given her opportunity at centre in the final quarter, replacing Watson, as the Vixens forced wholesale changes to the Mystics line-up. But they were unable to reel in the Vixens’ lead.
Meanwhile, Melbourne Vixens have made a lasting tribute to champion goaler Sharelle McMahon by naming their most valuable player award after the former Australian captain.
The Vixens’ best player for the trans-Tasman season will now receive the Sharelle McMahon Medal at their annual awards’ night.
The brilliant career of McMahon, who retired at the end of last season, was honoured at yesterday’s match against the Mystics.
Kate Maloney does her best to incept a pass to the Mystics’ Laura Langman. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia
No comments:
Post a Comment