A perfect warm-up for Vixens

MELBOURNE Vixens head into the Super Netball playoffs with momentum, confidence and the minor premiership after being the only team in the competition’s top four to win in the final round at the weekend.

The Vixens beat the Sunshine Coast Lightning 58-54 on Sunday to celebrate midcourter Liz Watson’s 100th national league match in a virtual dead rubber after earlier losses by the NSW Swifts and West Coast Fever cemented the order of the top four.

The Thunderbirds’ upset of the Fever and the Giants’ draw with the Swifts ensured the Lightning would finish second.

The Vixens had already wrapped up the minor premiership, meaning the teams will meet again in next week’s major semi-final.

Vixens coach Simone McKinnis said she was happy her team was able to bounce back from the loss to the Queensland Firebirds last week to beat the Lightning and head into the finals with a win.

“We were just really focused on getting back to our game and playing the way that we have been playing all season,” she said.

“I’m really happy that we bounced back from what was a pretty below-par performance last week to some good stuff out there today.”

Both teams started with their strongest line-ups, which included Watson, who hit the court for the first time in three weeks after missing the last two games with an ankle injury.

She played just the first half but the Vixens looked slick with her on court as she provided 21 feeds and 15 goal assists.

McKinnis praised her cocaptain’s “workrate, smarts and ball skills” as the Vixens resembled the outfit that led the competition for 13 of the 14 rounds.

“She is a huge performer, she loves to take it on. In those moments that matter, Lizzy wants the ball in her hands,” McKinnis said. “She’s a calm, composed leader.”