2025 Victorian Netball League live stream: Southern Saints v Boroondara Express, Round 11

Two representative stars have turned it on at either end of the floor for Booroondara as the Championship side made it five-straight wins. Watch the REPLAY.

The Rubies were shining bright on Wednesday night as Booroondara Saints made it five-straight wins in the Victorian Netball League Championship division.

Ruby Barkmeyer continued her dominant season under the goal ring, while agile defender Ruby Pekin-Schlicht pulled out the performance of her VNL career.

While the Southern Saints fought valiantly to match step with their rivals in the opening half, the Express kicked clear after the main break to stretch out to a 63-49 win.

WATCH THE FULL MATCH REPLAY ABOVE, SCROLL FOR THE 23-AND-UNDER REPLAY

The win improves the Express’ record to 10-1 for the season, settling comfortably into second spot behind the unbeaten City West Falcons.

While there was plenty of contributors across the court for the Express side, there was no topping the performance of their defensive wizard at the back.

Pekin-Schlicht was like a hawk on the defensive end, constantly snatching or deflecting errant Saints passes and cutting short the opposition attacking raids at will.

Replay: Southern Saints v Boroondara Express (23-and-Under)

In the 23 and Under showdown, Southern Saints shooter Hayley Howard had a dramatic chance to take the win in the final seconds but her shot heartbreakingly bounced out off the ring as the siren sounded.

The Express will be left to rue several missed opportunities on goal in the final term as the two sides were left to settle for a dramatic 53-53 draw.

PREVIEW

Southern Saints defender Mia Van Wyk has backed her side’s strengthening connections to help challenge for an important mid-season scalp against Boroondara Express on Wednesday night.

The Jane Searle-coached Saints, who finished seventh with a 9-11 record in 2024, have been working to close the gap on their higher-ranked championship rivals in recent years to various successes so far.

They’ll have the chance to do exactly that in round 11 with the Championship and 23&U matches available live and exclusive on KommunityTV from 7pm.

This year, the 4-6 Saints – on the cusp of breaking into the top six – have been comfortably beaten by higher-placed City West Falcons, Bendigo Strikers and North East Blaze so far, though got within one goal of Hawks and nine within Casey Demons.

Van Wyk believed the talented-laden Saints’ chances against the 9-1 Express would boil down to “our connections”, the 19-year-old confident greater off-court bonds were starting to translate on-court.

Southern Saints defender Mia Van Wyk is confident her side can take the next step and beat a contender this week. Picture: Grant Treeby/NV.

“(We’ll) see what can we exploit from them, and what are our strengths against that and what can we really use to work with that,” Van Wyk said.

“Personally, if we can really get our connections (going) and work together as a team, I think we’ll do well.

“Once we get around each other, and we just have that trust to let go of the ball, it really works in our favour as a team and we’re able to capitalise off that.”

Van Wyk, already in her third year as a championship player, forms part of an established Saints defence, with the biggest changes in their ranks this year coming in the attacking end.

A strengthening presence has been the inclusion of experienced goaler Rahni Samason, the 27-year-old back at the Saints after playing in New Zealand’s premier netball league in 2024 following a two-year stint for Melbourne Vixens.

“Rahni just brings such great experience and knowledge of high level netball – dealing with the pressures of a game or (if) we’re in a rut and down by two or three, what can we do to really pick us up and keep going,” Van Wyk said.

At the other end of the court is fellow captain Jessie Grenvold, the league’s reigning joint Most Valuable Player and a Melbourne Mavericks’ training partner.

Though Grenvold’s availability can be a week-to-week proposition – she’s lined up twice so far – Van Wyk is confident in any key defensive combination Searle rolls out between her, Grenvold and Anna Donnelly.

Southern Saints shooter Rahni Samason in action during the 2025 Victorian Netball League (VNL) season. Picture: Grant Treeby/Netball Victoria.

“I love playing with Jessie, she’s such an incredible player and to see her development in the past 12 months alone, she just gives such great leadership on-and-off the court,” Van Wyk said.

Working to take her own game to new heights this year as part of the Mavericks’ reserves squad, Van Wyk is embracing the opportunity to learn from reserves head coach Tracey Brereton, alongside Mavericks Super Netball coach Tracy Neville and assistant Nicole Richardson.

Van Wyk is joined in the Mavericks’ program by Saints teammates and goalers Millicent Roach and Mia Washington, while Tiahnee Farrell – who’ll face former club Boroondara on Wednesday – is lining up for Melbourne Vixens.

“Giving their knowledge to us, to be able to implement that both on a Mavs court but also when we’re back with the Saints, I think that’s really helped elevate my game personally as well,” she said of her Mavericks coaches.

A versatile defender who can roll through all three positions, Van Wyk believed her biggest improvements this year would be through wing defence as she attempts to add more attacking elements to her game.

“Some defenders can’t pass, and I’m guilty of that with a couple of my passing,” Van Wyk said with a laugh.

“(I’m) really honing in on that attacking and strong driving out of D (defence) to really set up our attackers for the best possible come down the line.”