Round 5 SN Reserves match report | Vixens Academy vs QBE Swifts Academy

Up by as much as 6 in the first half, Vixens Academy’s attacking structures broke down against a young Swifts side, despite the home team’s best attempts to claw back the margin the final five minutes.

Q1 | Vixens Academy 14 – 14 QBE Swifts Academy

Vixens Academy made some changes to their starting seven this week, bringing captain Ally O’Connor back into centre, and moving Ruby Pekin-Schlicht to wing defence. QBE Swifts Academy stuck with their starting lineup from the previous week of mostly up and coming pathway talent, including four players from the NSW 19/U State Team that won gold at last month’s National Netball Championships.

The home team got off to a red hot 6-1 start thanks to the defensive gains of Maggie Caris whose strength overpowered the superior height of Sophia Martinussen. Working together, Ruby Turner and Pekin-Schlicht were also able to shut down Lauren Woods. Swifts responded accordingly, bringing Isabella Maher into wing attack, and Isabella Degei into wing defence, which proved immediately effective. The changes slowed down Vixens and brought Woods into the game to score a super shot. A missed super shot by Mia Lavis was converted by Swifts to draw the game level at quarter time.

Q2 | Vixens Academy 33 – 29 QBE Swifts Academy

To start the second quarter, Vixens Academy injected Taylah Brown at wing defence, and moved Pekin-Schlicht into goal defence against an unchanged Swifts Academy side.

It was goal for goal to start the period, before Vixens put their foot down. No ball went unchallenged in defence, and the feeders were patient sending the ball into Lavis and Bella Hodgson, who mixed it up between front and back space holds. Swifts introduced Ava Moller into the game at goal attack, followed by the return of Jennings at wing defence, and Castle at wing attack. Up by 5 to start the power five, Vixens Academy brought Gabby Dwyer on at goal keeper with Caris out in front, while Swifts Academy brought Woods back on at goal shooter. Woods was effective, playing a holding role as required and sinking another super shot, to ultimately bring the margin back to 4 at half time.

Q3 | Vixens Academy 42 – 47 QBE Swifts Academy

Vixens Academy started the second half with Brown playing at centre for the first time this season, while O’Connor moved to wing defence. Swifts meanwhile made significant changes, bringing Woods back into goal attack, Martinussen to goal shooter, Eliza Burton to wing attack, and Courtney Castle to centre.

Both teams scored early gains, but Vixens Academy struggled to convert and missed shots. With the margin soon at 1 point, Casey Dunstan was brought into centre for her first minutes of the game, followed by Pekin-Schlicht into goal defence, and Degei back on at wing defence for Swifts. The unchanged defensive combination of Paige O'Neill and Charlotte Raleigh in this match eventually figured out Vixens’ attacking structures, allowing them to cut off balls to Lavis and Hodgson, which drew the game even with eight minutes to go. The scoreline forced more changes from Vixens Academy, with Brown back to wing defence, Caris to goal keeper, and O’Connor to centre before the power five. Lavis and Woods both sank super shots in the final minutes, but two other attempts were missed by Lavis, creating a 5-point deficit at three quarter time in what was a 18-9 quarter to Swifts Academy.

Q4 | Vixens Academy 60 – 62 QBE Swifts Academy

After a dominant third quarter, Swifts made no changes, while Ruby Turner returned to goal defence for Vixens.

The home side found their feet again through an early turnover to Turner and improved communication between the midcourt and shooters. They brought the margin back to 3, which saw Moller back on at goal attack for Swifts. Vixens made their own goaling change, bringing Sahara Ball into goal shooter for her first minutes of the game. Maher was then moved into wing defence for Swifts, and Woods into goal shooter to start the power five. Down by 6, the Vixens goalers were unflappable in the last 3.5 minutes, with Lavis shooting two super shots, followed by two to Ball to bring the game within 1. Swifts played a possession game to perfection before sending the ball into Woods for a final goal to win the game by 2.

THE COACH & CAPTAIN SAY

Vixens Academy head coach Wendy Jacobsen said her team were feeling good heading into this match, which contributed to their strong start. The difference was the third quarter, where Swifts made changes and connections between Vixens teammates broke down. “I think we went away from the connection and the things that got us ahead. And when I mean connection, that is a bit of communication with our voice, as well as our body,” Jacobsen said.

Asked what impressed her most in this match, Jacobsen said, “I think that our workrate was excellent. I think that we tried as hard as we could for as long as we could.

“I think Sahara came on in the last eight minutes of the game and kept us in it and nearly won it, but I think Mia Lavis is very consistent as well. It's just getting that right combination to combat what is being successful for the other team.”

Jacobsen added, “When we were able to slow it up we were able to get it, but we needed to do that a couple more times.”

Captain Ally O’Connor was also impressed by 18-year-old Ball in this game. “Sahara coming on in that last [quarter] and just smashing out a few two pointers – it's so incredible. She's a little young gun – she's one of our training partners – but she's been coming in week in week out and she's just been showing up so I was really proud of her.”

After a second consecutive loss, O’Connor said her team will be focusing on their consistency this week. “We do have lapses in quarter two and quarter three in particular, and whether that comes down to fatigue or just basic skill error, that's something we definitely need to look at and start cleaning up, especially when it's going to come to finals and we are playing a couple games on the one weekend.”

O’Connor added, “Today, I think if we had 62 minutes we probably could have made it, but it’s about finding that consistency within the 60 minutes that we do have.”

NEXT UP

Vixens Academy take on Adelaide Thunderbirds Futures on Sunday 31 May at Adelaide Entertainment Centre at 6pm ACST/6.30pm AEST, following the Round 12 Adelaide Thunderbirds vs Melbourne Vixens game. Admission is included with all SSN tickets to this match.

Stream all Super Netball Reserves games via Kommunity TV/Code Sports and keep up to date with scores via Play HQ.