Vixens win again
04/19/2010 10:40:31 AM
The Melbourne Vixens have maintained their perfect start to the year and their grasp on top spot on the ANZ Championship ladder after they defeated the Northern Mystics 62-51 at Hisense Arena on Monday night.
Melbourne started the game strongly to take a 17-10 lead at quarter-time and despite a second-term fightback from the Mystics, the Vixens outscored their opponents 35-26 in the second half to cruise to a comfortable win.
The result was Melbourne's fifth win from as many matches this campaign.
Meanwhile, the Southern Steel's fortunes plummeted after a damaging 56-41 loss to the Queensland Firebirds in Invercargill.
Rattled from the outset, there were few positives for the home team as it lost its proud record of never losing to an Australian team in the southern city.
The result continued the growing lack of success for New Zealand teams against their Australian counterparts.
After a slow start to the season, the Firebirds are hitting their straps and delivering the kind of form that had them favoured to make the finals.
Playing a smart and controlled brand of netball, the visitors got off to a rollicking start and never let the Steel back in as they went on to notch their second win.