Defending champions, the Victorian Fury have picked up where they left off in 2009 opening their 2010 New Idea Australian Netball League campaign winning 58 goals to 33 against the Netball NSW Blues at the Anne Clark Netball Centre in Sydney. The Fury’s performance was clinical as they dominated their less-experienced opponents in all thirds of the court.

Shortly after the first whistle it was the Netball NSW Blues who had the first scoring opportunity, but it was Melbourne Vixen Tegan Caldwell who netted the first goal of the match for the Fury. After five minutes the scores were locked at 3-all and Blues’ goal keeper Samantha Poolman was be rewarded for her hard work with a number of turnovers. This however was matched with stifling mid-court defence from the Fury, and this pressure on the Blues’ attack forced them consistently into error. After 10 minutes the Fury lead 10 goals to 3 and at the quarter time break it was the Fury who lead the Blues by 17 goals to 5.

 

The attack of the Fury continued to flow in the second quarter while the Blues’ attack end was not connecting with the same ease as the Vixens and Fury combination of Knott and Caldwell. Shooting at a combined 92% for the quarter the Knott/Caldwell pairing ensured that the Fury continued to extend their lead and though the Blues responded by lifting their scoring rate, it was not enough to peg back the Victorians who went into half time leading 29 goals to 15.

 

Both teams rung in the changes heading into the third quarter but it did little to suppress the Fury’s momentum. Putting up seven more attempts than the Blues and shooting at 80%, it was the Fury who went into the three-quarter time break leading 45 goals to 23.

 

Though the game was out of their reach the Blues pressed on in the fourth quarter competing down to the wire. Netball NSW Blues’ goal shooter Anita Blanco returned to the court to shoot five goals from five attempts, and not afraid to turn and shoot, Blues’ goal attack Alix McDermott sunk five goals from 6 attempts. Despite their best efforts the Blues were outclassed by a focussed Victorian Fury team who ran out winners 58 goals to 33.

 

Statistics
Quarter by Quarter
Netball NSW Blues: 5, 15, 23, 33
Victorian Fury: 17, 29, 45, 58

 

Shooting Statistics
Netball NSW Blues
Anita Blanco: 15/20 @ 75%
Vanessa Mullampy: 9/14 @ 64%
Alix McDermott: 9/13@ 69%
Team: 33/47 @ 70%

 

Victorian Fury
Kathleen Knott: 26/30 @ 87%
Tegan Caldwell: 14/17 @ 82%
Karyn Bailey: 18/22 @ 82%
Team: 58/69 @ 84%