A DISAPPOINTING night inside the goal third against the Peninsula Waves has seen VU Western Lightning slump to its first loss of the Victorian Netball League season.
After taking a one-goal lead into quarter time, the Lightning failed to take advantage of their chances when shooting and added just 12 goals in the next two quarters.
There was no such trouble at the other end of the court, with Waves’ shooter Mwai Kumwenda scoring at 95 per cent accuracy throughout the night.
Despite a better scoring effort in the final quarter, the damage was done for VU, as the margin grew to 11 goals.
Lightning coach Matt Hills was disappointed his side didn’t make the most of its chances.
“It was a good test for us early season coming off what you would consider to be a fairly comfortable first round win,” he said.
“It probably exposed to us that we have a lot of work still to do with our new front end.
“We only had a couple less attempts at goal than they did but lost by 11. We had plenty of opportunity and plenty of chances to be very competitive.
“In the first quarter we had five more attempts at goal than they did and we only led by one.”
After two rounds, Lightning sit in fourth place on the ladder.
The season isn’t about to get any easier with VU set to play last year’s premiers City West Falcons next week.
In what will be a replay of the grand final, Hills said he is expecting another tough hit out between the western suburb rivals.
“There is a healthy rivalry between us and City West. They are on the same side of town as us and we have a good local derby,” he said.
“It is going to be an extremely tight season. The games last year were very tight between the top seven teams so wins are going to be crucial early in the season.
“It will be a big challenge for us and I am quite confident we will be very competitive.”
