Victorian Netball League R12 live stream: Bendigo to host Strikers v Cougars and Melbourne Uni v Warriors clashes

The Bendigo Strikers have taken full advantage of only their second game at home this season. Watch the full replay, plus the Melbourne University versus Western Warriors contest.

The Bendigo Strikers have snapped a four-game losing streak with an upset win against Geelong Cougars at their home base in a high-quality contest.

Spurred on by the home crowd, the Strikers always controlled the contest on their way to a 51-41 victory as the Victorian Netball League headed north to Bendigo as part of their regional round.

Teal Hocking was a beacon at goal attack, finishing with 34 from 37, while goal shooter Bridgette Furphy also found the net 12 times.

Although Bendigo were always ahead, it wasn’t until late in the contest that they pushed the margin out to double figures.

Until then little had separated the two teams, with only two points to the favour of Bendigo at halftime.

REPLAY

Bendigo Strikers v Geelong Cougars

Watch the full replay in the window above.

Melbourne Uni Lightning v Western Warriors

Caitlin Hill has stepped up to lift Melbourne University to 56-50 victory against a spirited Western Warriors outfit in Bendigo.

Hill scored 37 from 41 as Lightning broke free of their opposition in the second quarter.

The first quarter was a tight affair as each team sounded out each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

Her opposite at the other end, Kimberly Borger, was even more dominant with 44 from 46.

Hill was supported by goal attack Claudia Mawson with 14 points and the combination always had the measure of their rivals.

The Warriors did fight back in the second half but the damage had been done and they simply couldn’t bridge the gap.

Ruby Shannon provided plenty of zip around the court for the Warriors, but it wasn’t to be enough.

PREVIEW

Bendigo Strikers vice-captain Chelsea Sartori hopes the home fans turn out in big numbers on Sunday as the Victorian Netball League heads out of Melbourne for Round 12.

The Strikers welcome Geelong Cougars to Bendigo Stadium, their second top-four clash in four days, as part of the regional showcase, with Melbourne University and Western Warriors also travelling to the north-central Victorian city for their round 12 clash.

Sartori, who will face her former club in the clash, was excited at the prospect of another fixture in her hometown after the Tracey Brereton-coached Strikers played in front of a sell-out crowd back in round 8.

“It was pretty amazing and surreal that we had so many people there supporting us,” Sartori said of last month’s match against Boroondara.

“We spoke about it before the game, just doing it for the young country kids that have come to support us.

“It’s really good that they (now) get to have the opportunity to play at this level and they don’t have to travel to Melbourne… there is something there (in Bendigo) for them.”

On court it will be a fight for the Strikers, who in their first year as a franchise are 3-7 midway through the season.

A six-goal loss to Hawks in round 10 was compounded by an eight-goal round 11 defeat against North East Blaze on Wednesday.

Against the top-four Blaze, the Strikers had the edge in the opening term before momentum swung towards their rivals midway through the second quarter.

Bendigo Strikers are heading home this weekend. Picture: NV.

Sartori, an experienced midcourter, said the top teams “make you pay” on errors, with Blaze goalers Georgia Moody and Sam Silvester rarely missing.

“We’ve been really competitive but I think we have a couple minutes where we lapse,” Sartori said.

“We allow the teams to come back in when we’ve extended the lead.

“You have to do it for the whole 60 minutes, you can’t do it for 45 or 50.”

But Sartori can see the Strikers’ improvement from week one to now, hopeful they can take it to another established top-four club in Geelong - the Cougars (6-4) surviving a two-goal win over Southern Saints on Wednesday - and the rest of the competition in the second half of the year.

“That’s the exciting thing, we can build even more and we can be better than what we are now,” Sartori said.

“It’s showing the belief, still working really hard and building the best connections which are getting stronger each week.

“Hopefully we can really take it to Geelong.”

Originally published as Victorian Netball League R12 live stream: Bendigo to host Strikers v Cougars and Melbourne Uni v Warriors clashes