By Dejan Kalinic
VU Western Lightning failed to upset more fancied Victorian Netball League (VNL) opponent Yarra Valley Grammar Ariels, losing 44-28 in the Championship Division on Wednesday night.
Poor shooting and turnovers cost the Lightning after a bright start, leaving them wallowing in eighth spot on the ladder.
Coach Matthew Hills said his team did a solid job defensively, but needed to work on using the ball more effectively.
“We were very, very good as a team defensively. In the main, we put them under pressure in every contest and every time they had possession,” he said.
“But our biggest challenge that we continue to develop is what we’re doing when we get the ball.”
Lightning made a lively start to create a three-goal buffer in the first quarter, but it was down by six at the first change.
Hills said the 11-5 quarter-time score line did not reflect how Lightning had performed.
“We were dominating them,” he said. “We put them under pressure with our style of defence but when you drop the ball out of court or make a basic skill error, which we made a couple of, at this level of netball that really hurts you.”
Lightning was left to rue a poor night of shooting with its opponent going at 80 per cent in comparison to the Lightning’s 60 per cent.
The coach said it was a disappointing aspect of the performance, which he rated on par with his team’s draw against Monash University Central in round four.
“It was a combination of our use of possession in attack and we didn’t shoot well this time around,” he said.
“We’re under no misapprehension that our front line is new and, in some areas, is young and inexperienced.
“If we had been able to be more consistent with the basics, we would have been much closer.”
Defensive duo Brooke Thompson and Fiona Themann were standouts, while Amelia Hills worked hard in the mid-court.
Hills said the inclusion of Central Pulse shooter Caitlin Thwaites at the end of the ANZ Championship could give his team a boost.
Lightning faces a must-win game against Geelong Cougars in round six, although it will be without shooter Shirin Chang, who is away on international duty with Samoa.
Meanwhile, in other results, Hume City bounced back from last week’s loss with a comprehensive 51-34 win against struggling Geelong Cougars.
It sets up a top of the table blockbuster for the Altona-based Falcons, who meet Boroondara Genesis tomorrow night.
