Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Super Netball leaders Adelaide have steamrolled fellow title fancies Melbourne Vixens 61-42 to tighten their grip on a minor premiership.
The Thunderbirds easily took care of last year’s premiers at Adelaide Entertainment Centre, winning all four quarters in what shaped as a possible grand final preview.
Both with 10-1 season records heading into Sunday’s First Nations Round fixture, the Thunderbirds become outright leaders after handing the Vixens their second defeat of the campaign.
Adelaide face bottom-four sides NSW Swifts and Sunshine Coast Lightning away en route to the finals, while the Vixens face a tougher run across the last two home-and-away rounds.
The second-placed Vixens host local rivals Melbourne Mavericks, before welcoming West Coast Fever to John Cain Arena.
Elmere van der Berg was on fire in attack on Sunday, with the South African international shooter (52 goals from 56 attempts) benefiting from the hard work of wing attack Georgie Horjus (25 goal assists, 31 feeds).
Thunderbirds defenders Shamera Sterling-Humphrey and Latanya Wilson held up the other end, with the hosts coughing up just 12 turnovers to the Vixens’ 21.
The Vixens’ usual stars struggled to fire, with attacker Hannah Mundy a late inclusion in the squad after Lily Graham (back soreness) failed to prove fit.
Kiera Austin could only manage 22 goals from 30 shots, while captain and centre Kate Moloney (28 feeds, 10 goal assists) and goalkeeper Emily Mannix (five intercepts) could do little under relentless pressure.
Adelaide fired off seven straight goals for a 16-10 first-quarter lead, with the Vixens struggling for composure in attack.
Vixens attacker Austin made uncharacteristic mistakes against Sterling-Humphrey and missed half of her eight goal attempts, but nailed a two-point super shot to keep the visitors in touch.
The Vixens could add just seven goals before halftime after giving away 24 penalties in the second quarter.
Adelaide’s ascendancy continued well into the second half, though the Vixens went goal-for-goal to start the third quarter, before settling for a 47-27 deficit at the final break.
