Victorian Netball League 2025 live stream: Melbourne University Lightning v Western Warriors, Round 5

Competitive showings against quality opposition have finally paid off for the Western Warriors, with their first victory of the season just reward. Watch how they did it. Full REPLAYS.

Belief can be a powerful quality as the Western Warriors stormed to a confidence-restoring breakthrough victory in the Victoria Premier League on Wednesday night.

They rushed rivals Melbourne University Lightning from the outset and never relinquished the lead en route to a 10-goal victory at Narrandjeri Stadium.

REPLAYS

Melbourne University Lightning v Western Warriors (Championship)

Watch the full replay in the player above.

Melbourne University Lightning v Western Warriors (23 & U)

Having been mentally challenged after being hit with the toughest of draws in the first month – which had resulted in a 0-4 start to the season – the 58-48 win was thoroughly deserved.

And with several Warriors players still sidelined through injury, this could be the perfect launching pad.

Star shooter Kimberly Borger’s return to the line-up had an immediate impact as she finished with 31 goals. Poppy Douglas landed 16 goals and Rebecca Hicks added 11 of her own.

The timely success was their first since June last year, which also came at the expense of Lightning.

The Melbourne Uni outfit just lacked the intensity to go with their more determined rivals.

Goal shooter Caitlin Hill netted 31 goals, while Emma Winfield was there in support with 16, but it just wasn’t to be their night as they trailed at every change.

Earlier, the undefeated Lightning proved too strong for the Warriors in their under-23 match-up, posting a comfortable 56-45 win.

Lightning jumped out to a five-goal lead at the first break but thereafter little separated the two sides as the Warriors lifted their intensity and grew in confidence.

It was a promising display and the Warriors can prepare for their next assignment with genuine belief that they are progressing in the right direction.

PREVIEW

Western Warriors coach Kim Bailey says her side must find consistency with “finals not out of the question”, despite a spate of early injuries and a 0-4 start consigning the second-year side to the bottom of the championship table.

The Warriors have been hit with arguably the toughest opening month of draws in the league, four matches against teams inside the top five, with Bailey labelling the run as “difficult”.

But the their most competitive showings – a 15-goal loss to Bendigo Strikers and two-goal thriller against North East Blaze – have given Bailey confidence her side can run with the best.

The Warriors will now target a breakthrough win against a 1-3 Melbourne University Lightning side on Wednesday night.

Both the 23/U and Championship matches will be streamed live and exclusive on KommunityTV from 7pm.

The Warriors’ tougher losses came against reigning premier City West Falcons (44 goals) and last year’s finalists Hawks (25).

“We knew a couple would have been up there but the likes of the Strikers, who have had a dramatic improvement, they’re such a quality team,” Bailey said.

Western Warriors coach Kim Bailey is confident her side can turn around it’s recent form. Picture: Grant Treeby/Netball Victoria.

“We ran with them for a lot of the game, and the same with Blaze.”

Bailey believed the Warriors’ two-goal loss against the Blaze was one of the best matches she’d seen from her team in their second year in the league.

“We know we’ve got the capabilities,” she said.

“It was just 100 per cent the full time, it was just full intensity and our work rate was massive and it was just one turnover that was the difference.

“It’s one we sort of let get away but that gave me confidence that we could actually run with these teams.

“We’re hoping in the next few weeks we can get some wins on the board and start from there.”

The Warriors will search for consistency to their line-up in the coming rounds, star goal shooter Kim Borger (calf), who missed two of their first four games, in line to return, though they’ve now lost defender Jasmine Fraser to an ankle injury.

Western Warriors shooter Kim Borger could return from injury for the clash. Picture: Grant Treeby/Netball Victoria.

Cross-coder and WNBL guard Abbey Ellis should return next week, after getting a call-up for the Opals’ training camp, with new recruit Poppy Douglass taking on much of the load in goal attack in recent weeks as the Warriors refine their new-look attack, including midcourters Tayla Honey and Ruby Shannon and goaler Rebecca Hicks.

Goal defender Eliza Gollant hasn’t been sighted yet after undergoing a meniscus surgery, alongside recruit Shannon Freeman, with Bailey and the Warriors turning to Molly Kennedy as a replacement player on eve of their season-opener against her former club City West Falcons.

“Molly’s come in and done an awesome job,” Bailey said.

“This is her fifth week so hopefully she’ll feel a lot more comfortable with the girls, and we know what we’re doing with her now, so we’re looking forward to seeing what she can produce for the rest of the season.”

Originally published as Victorian Netball League 2025 live stream: Melbourne University Lightning v Western Warriors, Round 5