The City West Falcons got a much needed test in the Victorian Netball League championship division on Wednesday night.
Back in front of their home crowd at Altona, the Falcons were pushed all the way by the Southern Saints.
The Falcons were able to hold on to win 61-54.
Falcons coach Marg Lind said they had been expecting a tough match from the Saints.
“They were playing to get back into the top four,” she said.
“They had a really hard loss the week before. I saw them at the end of the game and they were massively disappointed and knew they would play fired up.”
Lind said after a number of big wins, having a match that was a lot closer was what they needed.
She said they were pleased to have gotten over the line and seeing who would stand up under pressure.
“We didn’t connect well defensively,” she said. “We weren’t as connected as we have been and were caught at times doing a couple of different strategies.
“We kept getting out to 10 goal leads and had lapses of concentration, our passing was all over the court.”
She said it gave them a number of things to work on as they approach the second half of the season.
Lind said the biggest difference for then was the game of Jane Cook back in shooter. Cook, who shot 44 goals, has returned to form in recent weeks.
The Falcons welcomed back Uneeq Palavi, who had missed the last few games with national duties.
Lucia Fauonuku, who had also been on national duties, missed another match.
“Lucia has a bit of a niggling injury,” Lind said. “We could have tried to force her to come back, but we had Molly Kennedy available.
“She would have been handy as the Saints had some small aggressive midcourters, but it will be good for her in the long run.
“Uneeq’s last quarter was quite solid.”
The Falcons remain in top spot, with a 7-1 record. Their division 1 and under-19 sides both had wins and sit second and third respectively on the ladder.
Lind said they were happy at this point of the season as they wanted to try and get success in all grades in the final season of the current format.
The Falcons next week face Casey.
“They are a good side on paper,” Lind said.
“It’ll be the halfway mark of the competition and it’ll be good sign of where we’re at.”
