Live stream: Western Warriors v North-East Blaze, Victorian Netball League, Round 16

If it was a litmus test they wanted, the results are positive. The Warriors showed plenty of fight in the final quarter but it wasn’t enough to overcome a sharpshooting Blaze. Watch the REPLAYS.

Western Warriors will be left to rue what might have been as they let a chance to beat a top three side in the Victorian Netball League slip through their fingers.

The competition newcomers took the fight to North East Blaze in a thrilling final quarter, nearly overturning an 11-goal deficit at the final break, but costly turnovers on the attack cruelled their hopes of victory.

Instead it was the Blaze, led by brilliant goaler Sam Silvester (43 goals from 44 attempts), who made the most of their opportunities to score a 60-58 win.

WATCH THE CHAMPIONSHIP REPLAY ABOVE, SCROLL DOWN FOR THE 23-AND-UNDER REPLAY

The win only further entrenches the Blaze in the top three sides in the Championship division, while the Warriors remain in contention for finals, albeit they will need to rely on other results to go their way over the next month.

The Warriors said leading into the Round 16 clash that it was a litmus test of where they were at in their first year in the VNL, and the attitude in the squad is where it needs to be.

There is a fight in the Warriors side, as evidenced by their 18-9 final quarter where other sides might have packed it in at three-quarter time.

The fight is also clearly evident in wing defence Olivia Ellis, who despite not leaving the floor at any stage, continued to put pressure on the Blaze midcourt.

Ellis, up against her former club, was clearly the Warriors best on court pulling off several daring intercepts in the final quarter to give her side a chance.

But their execution betrayed their effort at times, with errant passes letting the side down late.

The Blaze midcourt of Maddi Wallmeyer and Ella Bayliss along with Kali Dolphin and Tara Watson continued their brilliant season, working hard over the opening three quarters to give their side an edge with their speed on the ball.

Georgia Moody and Sam Silvester showed their connection in the shooting circle has also improved over the course of the season, with Moody working overtime to shift the Warriors defence and get her partner open looks at goal.

Replay: Western Warriors v North East Blaze (23 & Under)

In the 23-and-Under clash, North East Blaze managed to push through the distraction of losing impressive young goaler Dee Dee Lambert to a serious knee injury in the second quarter, to fight on to a comfortable 34-goal win over the Warriors.

Blaze goal shooter Olivia Cawthray took on the lion share of the goal scoring after Lambert’s injury, scoring 54 goals from 62 attempts.

Maddie George was fantastic on the defensive end for the Blaze, limiting the Warriors opportunities on goal, while Ella Tennant was a handy replacement for Lambert in the shooting circle.

PREVIEW

Western Warriors sees Wednesday’s Victorian Netball League clash against North East Blaze as a timely “acid test” on their growth as a first-year franchise.

The Warriors, who return from a bye, hope to turn around a 20-goal defeat suffered at the hands of the Blaze in round three when the two clubs meet again in round 16 at the State Netball Centre.

The double header, which tips off with the Championship game from 7pm, will be exclusively live streamed on KommunityTV.

“I think if you compared the two teams then and now, you’d see a remarkable difference between us,” Warriors head coach Kim Bailey said.

Western Warriors goaler Julie Woolley in action earlier this season. Photo: Grant Treeby/ NV

The Warriors are in something of a purple patch at the moment, winning three of their past four matches while the loss - a six-goal defeat against Melbourne University - could be considered a tad unlucky considering star goaler Julia Woolley was out.

Bailey credited their uptick in form to strengthened combinations, as well as an improved defensive unit who know their roles.

“When you’re a brand new team with brand new players in there, it’s really hard if you haven’t played together,” Bailey said.

“The connection between (goalers) Kim (Borger) and Julia at the minute is amazing and that did take a little while to come to fruition.

“We did have to tweak how we played that and we did tweak the midcourt - we’re doing more rotations.

“We had a few girls who hadn’t played VNL for a few years, the three defenders Georgia Berry, Jasmine Fraser and Nat Tommasini.

“They just needed to feel their way through it and how hard it is to play VNL and that combination has really come together now and add Elly Randall in there and it’s been effective.”

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Western Warriors Vanessa Augustini in action earlier this season. Photo: Grant Treeby/ NV

Tommasini, 39, was a late inclusion for the Warriors after they lost young gun Ella Ogier to an ACL on the eve of the season, with Tommasini already familiar with Woolley and midcourter Vanessa Augustini’s play, lining up together at their local club, Newtown & Chilwell in the Geelong league.

Despite their own strong form, the Warriors know third placed Blaze pose a significant test after their recent 20-goal win over Casey Demons that put to bed recent mixed results.

Add in the uncertainty of whether the Blaze’s ace, South African goaler Rolene Streutker lines up - though she was in Melbourne Mavericks squad for Monday’s Super Netball fixture - and Bailey and the Warriors know they need to have plans in place regardless.

“I’m not sure she’ll line up on Wednesday…but (goalkeeper) Georgia Berry has been doing really well on those taller girls and Georgia’s has probably been one of our most improved this season,” she said.