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The Melbourne Vixens have leapt into second spot on the Super Netball ladder with a crushing 73-48 home win over stragglers Adelaide Thunderbirds. The powerful Vixens line-up swamped the winless Thunderbirds early to lead by 12 goals at the end of the first term and won each remaining quarter to claim all eight competition points. It took them to 55 points, leapfrogging the Giants (54) and Queensland Firebirds (49) to be seven behind ladder leaders West Coast Fever. With defending champions Sunshine Coast Lightning on 47 and the NSW Swifts on 37, it sets up a enthralling battle for semi-final spots with three rounds to play. Vixens coach Simone McKinnis was thrilled to see her team work consistently over four quarters and keep fighting to regain possession when the result was beyond doubt. "I just loved the way we pounced on anything, it was like we were attacking anything that was loose," McKinnis said. "That was a really good indicator of the intensity that they brought into the game and that was important." Malawian goal shooter Mwai Kumwenda (52/56) cashed in on the Vixen's dominance of possession while Tegan Philip's mid-range shooting was a highlight until she was subbed out in the third quarter. The Vixens' team included five players named earlier in the day in the 2018 Australian netball squad, with sidelined defender Emily Mannix also chosen. They played with purpose early, forcing a string of early turnovers from Adelaide to finish the first quarter ahead 21-9. Kumwenda made all 16 of her goal attempts while five of Adelaide's seven turnovers came from Vixens intercepts. The Thunderbirds challenged the home side in the second quarter with shooter Cathrine Tuivaiti making an impact, the New Zealand international playing her second game back from a serious knee injury. But the Vixens charged home in the final minutes of the first half to lead 40-23 at the main break. The second half opened with six unanswered goals to the Vixens as they surged further ahead, allowing coach Simone McKinnis to rest Philip with Sam Gooden coming on at goal attack. The Thunderbirds fought hard in the fourth quarter but were unable to deny the Vixens the final bonus point.
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