The Melbourne Vixens’ controversial Super Netball win over Collingwood Magpies will stand, as Netball Australia launched an investigation into an umpiring error in favour of the eventual victors of the weekend’s match.
Mwai Kumwenda drilled a two-point shot after the final siren to cap an improbable fourth-quarter comeback as the Vixens claimed a memorable 62-61 victory over their cross-town rivals on Sunday.
But the match will also be remembered for a glaring officiating error, after the Vixens appeared to benefit from receiving two centre passes in a row during the final minutes.
Pies coach Nicole Richardson immediately called out the mistake but her remonstrations fell on deaf ears and the match continued, with Kumwenda ultimately converting the match-sealing shot after time expired.
Netball Australia on Monday morning recognised an error had been made, but said it would not affect the official outcome of the match.
“Netball Australia is reviewing the circumstances that led to an error in the fourth quarter of yesterday’s match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Melbourne Vixens, where the Vixens were awarded two consecutive centre passes,” a statement read.
“Under the Suncorp Super Netball Rules of the Game, the result of the match stands with the Melbourne Vixens winning 62-61.”
Collingwood player Ashleigh Brazill said the outcome was “bitterly disappointing”.
The score, time and centre pass management is FUNDAMENTAL to our game.
— Ashleigh Brazill (@ash_braz) March 26, 2023
This is bitterly disappointing. https://t.co/uGL8K9LHPG
It was not the only chaotic ending to a Super Netball match over the weekend, after a power outage forced an early end to a stop-start match between the Adelaide Thunderbirds and the NSW Swifts.
The start of the match was delayed for an hour after work was completed around the decal areas at Netball SA Stadium in Adelaide. When the game got underway, the Swifts led 16-12 at quarter-time but the Thunderbirds fought back to level the scores at 25-25 by the halfway mark.
A potentially fascinating second-half battle did not eventuate, with a blackout preventing the match resuming and being completed in time. Both teams took two points.
“It’s just really disappointing and very unfortunate circumstances tonight that a power outage has got us,” Netball Australia head of integrity Nicole Malcher told Fox Sports.
Thunderbirds, who won their opening-round game, moved to six points, while Swifts collected their first two points of the campaign following a loss to Collingwood last time out.
“To have a draw and not being able to have the opportunity to win the game it is really sad,” Swifts shooter Helen Housby told Fox Sports. “There were some emotions in the changing room.
“It’s a short season and every single point counts so we know that there’s probably a couple of points gone missing there for us.”
