Mwawi inspires Vixens to inaugural minor premiership
Once again, Malawi’s netball export Mwawi Kumwenda dictated affairs under the loop as she inspired her Australian club Melbourne Vixens to the inaugural Super Netball minor premiership with a 68-42 thrashing of West Coast Fever at Perth Arena.
According to Suncorp Super Netball website, Mwawi was unstoppable in the circle, hitting 37 from 39 attempts as Vixens triumphed to guarantee the top spot and a home major semi-final.
“The style of the gaping win was much the same as they had employed throughout a consistent season during which they lost just two games,” reported supernetball.com.au.
“A shared scoring load between Mwawi Kumwenda [37 goals] and Tegan Philip [31], machine-gun punch through the midcourt and physicality in defence, were the markers they laid all season and this game was no different. It was much tougher going in attack for the Fever.”
The victory guarantees home-court advantage for the Vixens in next Saturday afternoon’s major semi-final against the Sunshine Coast Lightning in Melbourne, with a grand final berth and hosting rights at stake.
Currently, Mwawi’s team is at the summit of the eight-team log table on better basket-difference as they are tied on 23 points with second-placed Lightning after 14 rounds. Giants are third with 20 points.
The grand final will be played on June 17.
“It is not over yet but feels great to finish top, now we have to focus on the semifinals. The set-up here is different fishing as top of the table does not guarantee league title, we now have to play the semi-finals.
“We are playing well currently and we can go all the way,” said Kumwenda in an interview from Melbourne. n
