Strikers secure important win over quality Blaze

BENDIGO Strikers produced an important win in the context of their VNL Championship season, beating North East Blaze by 23 goals at Red Energy Arena on Sunday.

Eyeing a top four spot, the fifth-placed Strikers moved within one win of Casey Demons in fourth on the back of an emphatic 64-41 win.

While the VNL has moved to a top six for finals this season, Strikers coach Tracey Brereton has made no secret of her desire for a top four finish in the club’s second year in the state’s premier netball competition.

They will have three games before finals in which to make up the ground on the Demons.

In their favour, the Strikers have a superior percentage (currently 9.10 per cent).

The Strikers have given themselves every chance of achieving their goal after scoring one of the best wins in their championship history, watched on by an eager and appreciative group of past players from the original Strikers, who played predominantly at Royal Park in Melbourne in the 90s and 2000s.

While the club was paying homage to its history, its championship and 23-and-under teams were busy creating some history of their own.

The championship team’s victory followed on the heels of a landmark win by the club’s 23-and-unders, who inflicted the Blaze’s first loss of the season in a 64-49 triumph.

In a similar vein to the 23s, the championship team encountered strong early resistance from the Blaze in a 14-14 opening term.

The margin was only four goals the Strikers’ way at half-time, before they produced some of their best netball of the season in the second half to power away from the Blaze.

A crucial win was built on a scintillating defensive display and some powerful goaling from Gabe Richards (35 at 88 per cent) and Teal Hocking (27 at 82 per cent).

Branding it a perfect day for the Strikers, Brereton hinted there was some pressure on her championship side to keep the momentum flowing following the 23s shock win.

“The 23s knocking off an undefeated Blaze … no pressure on us champs (team) trying to get a win, right? But to finish off with a strong win just shows what a great year we are having as a club,” she said.

“(Blaze) are real quality; they have some players who have been around for a long time in the same team together.

“They have some really good connections in there and their defenders are dogged and hungry for ball.

“We knew we had to be pretty slick in attack and we had some certain KPIs that we had to hit there.

“Once we got control of the game and started to play to our tempo, we just started doing the basics well and not trying to be a bit cute.”

With the enviable task of being one of those to submit her 3-2-1 in best and fairest voting, Brereton conceded there was a lengthy list of contenders, with no weak links on the day.

“Everyone played their role. I know that sounds a bit clichéd, but honestly, that is team sport,” she said.

“If you have five out of seven doing it and two aren’t, you have a weak link.

“The girls were just considerate in our game plan. They just knew they had to get it done today.

“It started off a bit sloppy and the ball went back and forth, but that’s this level of netball at times.

“But after half-time, we really started to cement our game and score off our centre passes and make them hurt on the scoreboard.”

With their three remaining games – starting with Western Warriors in Ballarat next Sunday – all against non-top six teams, the Strikers will be wary of a letdown.

But there is no doubt the Blaze win has set them up nicely for a thrilling first tilt at championship finals.

With their momentum growing, star midcourter Emma Walters tipped the Strikers to be hungry and formidable at finals time.

“We have such a great team in terms of culture and off-court – and on the court, everyone has their own individual talent,” she said.

“Right now, we are really strengthening and coming together.

“I think it’s perfect timing – the underdog is coming up.”