Vixens find their way, Lightning lament poor start

By Matt Fotia 

Melbourne Vixens coach Simone McKinnis has lauded her side's ability to find a way to win following their 63-61 victory over a fast-finishing Sunshine Coast Lightning side at a vocal UniSC Arena on Saturday night. 

The Vixens led by nine goals midway through the third quarter and had to withstand a number of Lightning comebacks to hang onto the crucial victory – and their place on top of the Suncorp Super Netball ladder. 

The veteran coach said the distinct features of the Lightning’s home court – and crowd – made the win even more impressive. 

“I’m really pleased, it’s a tough venue to play in,” McKinnis said following the win. 

“The (Lightning) crowd just love supporting their team. 

“It’s very unique because it feels like they’re sitting there on the bench with you, right in your ear. 

“It’s a tough environment, so I loved that we experienced that in a really tight game and when they were really coming back at us and had the opportunity to take the win, I loved that we were able to find our way through it.” 

The Vixens were forced to make changes to their starting seven following the withdrawal of in-form circle defender Rudi Ellis, who was unable to recover from an ankle injury she suffered in the dying stages against the Mavericks in Round 9. 

Origin Diamonds defender Jo Weston moved back to her preferred position of goal defence, Emily Mannix shuffled back to goal keeper and long-time training partner Sharni Lambden was called up to fill the gap left at wing defence.  

That defensive trio, along with the hard work of evergreen leader Kate Moloney, combined for 9 gains, 9 deflections, 3 intercepts and 8 pickups. 

Speaking post-game, Mannix highlighted the importance of the little moments that the Vixens defensive unit won across the course of the match. 

“Those little one percenters go as far as taking a ripper intercept,” stated Mannix. 

“It’s really important to be doing that all of the time and we talk about that a lot. 

“(It) was great see Kate Moloney on circle edge picking up some of those balls, Sharni Lambden coming in and having a stellar game, being there on the transverse line ready to rip the balls in when they were spraying over. 

“Those things really counted in the end.” 

Meanwhile Sunshine Coast Lightning coach Belinda Reynolds lamented her side’s inability to match the Vixens intensity from the first whistle, suggesting her team was a bit chaotic on the ball in the early stages of the loss. 

“There was a lot of physical pressure all over the court and we need to be better at that, we have to take on that physicality and stay really calm in our minds,” Reynolds said of their early offensive woes. 

“We were a little bit erratic in attack early, so we have to be better in those moments. 

“You can’t give little opportunities like that to the Vixens because they’re so clinical in their attack, so we’ll go back and look at those errors.” 

Reynolds was quick to praise her side's ability to steady themselves after those early wobbles and mount several comebacks across the course of the game, but said the Lightning need to ask themselves where that level of performance was in the opening stages. 

“Our defensive pressure late in the game was really good, we have to ask ourselves ‘where was that level of intensity early?’” Reynolds queried. 

“When (the) game was on the line we found a way, but we have to set the tone earlier in the match.” 

Courtney Bruce continued her comeback to full fitness playing 21 minutes off the bench, collecting two gains and an intercept. 

The Lightning remain in fourth position on the ladder but are now level on points with the Melbourne Mavericks.