By LIAM TWOMEY
CITY West Falcons reached the Victorian Netball grand final with a seven-goal win against Peninsula Waves last week.
The Falcons were dominant throughout the match before seeing off a late fightback from Waves to secure the 50-43 win.
City West will now enjoy a week off in the lead-up to the grand final when they will play the winner between Waves and VU Western Lightning.
Playing in the semi-final, Lightning accounted for Monash University Central by one goal.
The pair had met seven days earlier in the final round of the home and away season and after being dealt a 10-goal defeat on that occasion, VU ensured there would be no repeat last week.
After leading by as many as six throughout the second quarter, Lightning took a four-goal buffer into the final change with Centrals on the attack.
In a low-scoring fourth term, Monash topped VU 9-6 but it wasn’t enough to tie the game with Lightning holding on for the 40-39 win.
“We were beaten by them last week and we did a lot of work to try and set that right,” VU coach Matt Hills said.
“They got the game back on level terms in the final term after we had probably been the better team for the first three quarters.
“As it happens, when we play Monash, I think we have had four one-goal games over the last three years, it came down to another nail biter and I’ve got to give my girls great credit. The last seven minutes we showed massive ticker and we continue to do that with this group of girls. It never ceases to amaze me how they can find something in close games to get the job done.”
Last time Lightning met Waves, the latter came out on top by seven goals.
“We lost to Waves twice last year and then were able to get over them in the semi-final,” Hills said.
“We are hoping that history repeats itself again.
“Last time we played them we gave up a 10-goal lead at quarter-time and got back to three or four goals a couple of times to eventually lose by seven.
“We were very competitive against them and I am quietly confident that if we produce our best netball over four quarters, it will be good enough.”
