The Melbourne Vixens have further enhanced their status as this season's title favourites after beating West Coast Fever 50-44 in a mostly one-sided grand final re-match in Perth.
After a tight first quarter in Sunday's Super Netball match at RAC Arena, the Vixens blew West Coast off the court in the second and third terms.
The margin was 13 goals midway through the final quarter, before the Fever nailed some late Super Shots to add respectability to the scoreboard.Â
The result improved the Vixens' record to a perfect 7-0 in an ominous start to their title defence, while the third-placed Fever slipped to 5-2.
The win came just a week after the Vixens also got the job done against another title contender - a 56-50 triumph over the second-placed Adelaide Thunderbirds (6-1).
Vixens goal shooter Sophie Garbin scored 36 goals from 40 attempts on Sunday, while wing defence Kate Eddy was superb with three intercepts and four gains.
Fever goal shooter Romelda Aiken-George was restricted to 21 goals and spent long periods on the bench as the home side attempted to claw their way back via the Super Shot.
The only real positive to come out for the Fever was the return of Ruth Aryang, who had spent more than a year on the sidelines after tearing her Achilles tendon.
"It feels so good being back," Aryang said when interviewed at halftime.
"This is what I worked hard for, and I'm finally here. I couldn't be happier, I couldn't be more proud."
The Vixens led 12-10 after a tough first quarter in which both teams struggled to score freely.
It was a different story for the Vixens in the second term, with the visitors opening up a 20-13 lead before Fever coach Dan Ryan pulled the trigger, bringing on Aryang at goalkeeper.
Aryang received a huge round of applause as she made her way on to the court for the first time since round two last year, and her introduction sparked the Fever.
West Coast were able to close the margin to four goals courtesy of two Super Shots from Sasha Glasgow, but the Vixens steadied to take an important 27-20 lead into halftime.Â
It marked the Fever's lowest first-half score in nine years, and the pain continued in the third quarter as the game slipped away.Â
"Fever's been in great form, so we knew it was going to be tough," Vixens captain Kate Moloney told Fox Sports.
"I thought our first three quarters were really good.Â
"And our fourth quarter, which has been our best so far this season, wasn't as good this game.Â
"But we knew their quality, that they were going to come back at us."
