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Following an excellent pre-season the Melbourne Vixens have capped-off the ideal start to their 2013 ANZ Championship campaign, defeating the LG Mystics 60-46 at the Trusts Stadium in Auckland last night.
Sharelle McMahon (pictured) made her return to ANZ Championship netball last night. Image credit: Matt Johnson.
The Vixens put on a second-half show in order to claim victory over the LG Mystics, increasing a three-goal half time lead to an eventual 14-goal margin.
The Mystics gave the visitors a challenge during the first half, as they managed to stick tightly- giving the home crowd something to cheer about.
It seemed a combination of unforced errors and a slightly weaker mid-court was to be the downfall of the Mystics, as the second half demonstrated the fitness of the Vixens outfit and their fantastic defensive pressure all the way up the court.
Being able to bring former Australian Diamond Sharelle McMahon in at goal attack at half time doesn’t seem to hurt your chances either.
McMahon made a stellar return to the ANZ Championship nailing 10 goals from 14 attempts, following her temporary break from the game through injury and the birth of her first child last year.
Whilst both teams held similar goaling accuracy percentages (83%), perhaps another factor that featured in the Mystics defeated was the unusual misses coming from Silver Fern Maria Tutaia.
Speaking after the match Tutaia commented on her inaccuracies, saying that she needed to ‘get the ball through the hoop more’, following a return of only 18 from 27 attempts.
Conversely fellow goaler Catherine Latu shot a perfect 28 from 28, but it was unfortunately not enough to get her team across the line.
The Mystics may go back to the drawing board before their next match, but will not be discouraged, as their side will look to feature in this year’s finals series.
The Vixens will look to continue their stellar form against the Adelaide Thunderbirds at home, whilst the Mystics will be aiming to atone against the West Coast Fever in Perth- with both matches scheduled for Easter Sunday.
ANZ Championship Round 1 Results:
Queensland Firebirds 68 d. Southern Steel 59
Adelaide Thunderbirds 49 d. Central Pulse 42
Easiyo Tactix 46 lost to Kia Magic 69
LG Mystics 46 lost to Melbourne Vixens 60
NSW Swifts 55 d. West Coast Fever 41
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Maddi Vantarakis 