By Tara Murray
The Western Warriors did just enough to come away with the win against the Peninsula Waves in the Victorian Netball League on Wednesday night.
The winless Waves pushed the Warriors all the way and didn’t let them get away.
The Warriors led at every break and were able to hold on to win, 53-51.
Warriors coach Kim Bailey was just happy to take the win.
“It was more difficult than we thought,” she said. “They were chaotic and disruptive tonight [Wednesday] and we most likely didn’t respond to that chaos.
“We were up most of the game, I think they drew level once. We are strong enough and composed enough to take those wins.
“We weren’t at our best and they played very well. We’ll take the four points, and I’m very happy with that.”
Bailey said that composure had come through winning a couple of games in the past few weeks and knowing how to get over the line.
The Warriors changed their line up, with Kim Borger not playing most of the second half with the combination of Rebecca Hicks and Poppy Douglass working well.
Hicks shot 25 goals for the Warriors.
“When something is working, you leave it,” Bailey said. “Kim is such a professional and was like just leave it and we did.”
Bailey said the injection of Georgia Hellyer in the third quarter made a real impact and she created some space.
That was when the Warriors got out to their biggest lead of the game, but the Waves were able to bring it back.
The Warriors have now won three of their past four games and are now up to eighth on the ladder.
“You have a look at the next few weeks and they are really competitive games,” Bailey said. “Our aim, it was a block that we knew that if we worked really hard we could get some good results and hopefully we continue to do that and see what happens.
“Get back to training and do the basics well.”
The Warriors were still without Eliza Gollant and Ruby Shannon. Bailey said they were hoping to have the pair back in the next couple of weeks.
She said they had really missed Shannon, a Melbourne Vixens training partner.
“Even though Sim [Simona Di Filippo] and Georgia have done an awesome job, you still miss her creativity and it gives us an opportunity to put her into centre and we can put Tayla [Honey] into wing d. A lot more options,”
The Warriors’ 23 and under side slipped away in the final quarter against the Waves, losing 61-39.
Bailey said it was disappointing that they couldn’t finish it off and one that got away.
The Warriors face the Casey Demons next week.
Bailey said it would be a good game and they have played well against them in the past, winning both games last season.
