To face 2009 title winners the Hume City Falcons at the State Netball and Hockey Centre was as hard a task as head coach Christina Poupolo could have asked for.

The Ariels showed they could match it with the league benchmark for the first half, before falling away to lose 49-32.

The drop disappointed Poupolo who made her feelings known at the after-match talk.

"I was disappointed with the lack on intensity in the second half, after we had shown in the first half that we could play at their level.

"But we didn't value the ball enough in the second half and they showed us what we have to work towards."

The task will not get any easier tonight when the Ariels line up against the Southern Saints, who finished in the top four last season and are fresh from defeating the Ariels in the pre-season cup. "It will be a challenge," Poupolo said.

"They defeated Boroondara last season and have shown already they will be strong."

Championship Division: Hume City Falcons 49 d Yarra Valley Grammar Ariels 32, Southern Saints 41 d Boroondara Genesis 24, North East Blaze 63 d VU Western Lightning 52, Geelong Cougars 47 d UB Ballarat Pride 37, Monash University Central 61 d Peninsula Waves 40.

Division 1: North East Blaze 40 d VU Western Lightning 35, UB Ballarat Pride 42 d Geelong Cougars 36, Hume City Falcons 44 d Yarra Valley Grammar Ariels 31, Monash University Central 53 d Peninsula Waves 47, Southern Saints 39 d Boroondara Genesis 38.

19 and under division: Monash University Central 39 d Peninsula Waves 33, Southern Saints 58 d Boroondara Genesis 38, VU Western Lightning 43 d North East Blaze 37, Geelong Cougars 46 d UB Ballarat Pride 29, Hume City Falcons 35 d Yarra Valley Grammar Ariels 34.