Netball: Vixens bounce back against Fever

Sarah Wall of the Vixens passes the ball against West Coast Fever. Photo / Getty Images

Melbourne Vixens 70

West Coast Fever 39

The Melbourne Vixens have returned to form after their shock loss in New Zealand last week with a 31-goal thrashing of West Coast Fever in their trans-Tasman netball competition clash today.

The Vixens lead throughout and ended up 70-39 victors in their biggest win of the year at Melbourne's State Netball Centre.

It was a welcome return to the winner's circle after the fourth-placed Vixens gave up a late lead in their match against the Northern Mystics in Auckland last week.

The more experienced Vixens were too polished for the seventh-placed Fever, with Vixens captain Sharelle McMahon outstanding, as was the defensive duo of Bianca Chatfield and Geva Mentor.

The all court pressure of the Vixens was just too much for the Fever.

Despite making wholesale changes to her team midway through the second quarter, Fever coach Jane Searle could not find a defensive combination to combat the Vixens' superior ball movement and their attacking pressure.

Despite being five rounds into the season, the Vixens were playing their first home game of the season and took the opportunity to welcome back Australian representative Julie Corletto.

The 24-year-old defender has been out of the game with a string of serious knee injuries since May.

Vixens coach Julie Hoornweg brought Colletto into the game late in the second-quarter and she played the rest of the match without incident.

Melbourne Vixens 70 (Sharelle McMahon 28/33, Tegan Caldwell 20/21, Kate Beveridge 17/24, Kathleen Knott 5/5) West Coast Fever 39 (Caitlin Bassett 22/26, Ashlee Howard 11/14, Leah Shoard 6/8). Halftime: 33-19.

- AAP