A sluggish start for the Lightning left them with too much work to do in the second half, despite a gallant fourth quarter, while the Swifts run of form continues with a one-point win over the Fever.
Catch up with all the round nine Super Netball action.
-Georgia Doyle
GIANTS Netball powered out to a 13 goal win over Collingwood Magpies in Super Netball. It was their 15th victory over Collingwood in 16 meetings. The win showed GIANTS are capable of winning without the services of captain Jo Harten, ruled out of the match with a re-aggravation of a knee she’s been managing since July 2022.
Stepping into the big shoes of Harten, youngster Matisse Leatherbarrow had a solid performance. Up against one of the league’s most experienced players, Geva Mentor, she finished with 42 from 47 including five super shots.
Jodi-Ann Ward was back to her best for Magpies. She reeled in three rebounds and three intercepts while also limiting Sophie Dwyer’s impact on the game.
Dwyer was uncharacteristically quiet, taking 17 minutes to hit the scoreboard and finishing with only 17 goals, well below her season average of 22.
With neither team able to break the game open, GIANTS took a narrow three goal lead at the main break. Ward was aware of the importance of the game, but claimed it wasn’t a big focus for her side saying in a halftime interview, “this is important for our season to stay alive. But we aren’t thinking about it. We are sticking to our structures and game plan.”
GIANTS sit bottom of the league for defensive rebounds this season, with just nine across the first eight games. But Lauren Moore snagged perhaps the most important rebound of the game before three quarter time, allowing GIANTS to take a seven goal lead.
MVP Jamie-Lee Price was pivotal in GIANTS pushing ahead. Taking over as on court captain for the match, she was calm through court and maintained composure when the game was on the line.
“I always love stepping up and leading, with Jo out I guess us oldies have to step up and take control,” she said post-match.
Sophie Garbin started well, but it didn’t last. Her strong first quarter included a super shot and only one turnover, but it was downhill from there finishing the game with six turnovers and on just 50 per cent accuracy.
It was a scrappy final five minutes, Collingwood were desperate to claw the lead back but instead went from a five goal deficit to finishing the game down by 13 all but ending their 2023 season.
RILED UP RICHO
Magpies head coach Nicole Richardson is known for her passion, never shying away from giving her team a spray when needed. However, in recent weeks they seem to be falling on deaf ears with the team fading out of matches at critical moments. They have the talent to be winning games, so is a change in tactics or on-court personnel needed to reinvigorate the team?
MORE OF MOORE
GIANTS defender Lauren Moore earned her third consecutive start, after impressive outings against some of the league‘s most dominant shooters in recent weeks. Coach Julie Fitzgerald is known for seldom swaying from her traditional line up, but Moore rewarded her for the selection. Despite an 11cm height disadvantage against Shimona Nelson, Moore recorded an impressive three intercepts and four deflections.
– Katrina Nissen
A nightmare start spelled disaster for the Sunshine Coast Lightning, with their epic final quarter not enough falling short by a solitary goal to a clinical Melbourne Vixens.
Lightning failed to win a single possession, while coughing up eight balls in the first fifteen minutes of play. Vixens were a stark contrast, scoring off 100% of their five won balls, and also starved Lightning of shooting opportunities for over eight minutes.
Vixens’ scorching start was largely thanks to Emily Mannix who made the most of her first start in recent weeks. Her connection with teammate Jo Weston was on song as the duo collected four intercepts, one rebound and three deflections.
Lightning reshuffled their line-up heading into the second term. While it was a more competitive quarter, they were unable to pull back the margin, with Vixens carrying a ten goal lead into the main break.
Speaking to commentary at halftime, Mannix talked about the stakes in this match. “We knew we had to hit them hard. They’re playing for their season and we’re playing for ours.”
21-year-old Ava Black was a breath of fresh air for the Lightning. The youngster was not cowed by the calibre of Vixens midcourt as she threw herself at any loose ball or errant pass within arms reach.
Forcing multiple changes in goal keeper across the match, Mwai Kumwenda put in an MVP performance with 45/48 including her 3000th Super Netball goal.
Heading into the final super shot period, Lightning coach Beldina Reynolds had clear instructions, “We know that they will want to keep possession, but we can’t let them do that.”
Karla Pretorius delivered, taking an intercept with four minutes on the clock which Steph Wood finished off with a super shot. A quick reply and then parry saw one goal in it with mere seconds to go.
A penalty given away from Kadie-Ann Dehaney gave Vixens the opportunity to secure the win with a two point goal, which Kiera Austin was more than capable of sinking.
PROTEA PRETORIUS
Lightning’s Karla Pretorius is on track to make a strong international netball return at this year’s World Cup. The South African sits in the league’s top five for deflections (with 36) and just outside the top five for intercepts (16 – one shy of top five). Most importantly, Pretorius has been tidy with the ball only giving away nine turnovers this season.
ROAD TO FINALS
Both Vixens and Lightning have a tough road as they battle for a finals berth. In the next two weeks, Vixens face ladder leaders Adelaide Thunderbirds and then the NSW Swifts who, last night, overcame second placed West Cover Fever. If they can win at least one of those matches, they should be safe. If Lightning are to make finals, they need Vixens to drop a game or two, while Lightning must register at least four wins including two on the road against Thunderbirds and Fever.
– Katrina Nissen
The NSW Swifts continued their five game winning streak, with West Coast Fever their latest scalp. It was a tough battle in a notoriously hard arena; however, the one goal victory all but secures their finals berth.
With Fever’s super shot super star Sasha Glasgow ruled out due to Covid protocols, many expected training partner, and former Diamond, Nat Butler (nee Medhurst) to start the match. However, Emma Cosh was awarded the goal attack bib despite having limited minutes in the position this season.
The typically testy battle between Swifts shooter Romela Aiken-George and Fever captain, Courtney Bruce was one of many mouth-watering contests on court. With a lot of physicality let go by the umpires, players openly showed their frustration.
Without Glasgow, cracks showed in Fever’s attack end with uncharacteristic ball-handling errors which Swifts converted into a three goal, first quarter lead.
Swifts trialled three defenders against Jhaniele Fowler. Teigan O’Shannassy was probably the most effective using her height to pick off three deflections, and her team’s only intercept for the game.
At the start of the third term, Butler entered the match. She immediately fell back into a familiar rhythm with Fowler, using her smarts to expertly weave the ball around the attacking end. Her presence elevated the side as they pushed out to a six-goal lead.
Butler spoke after the match about coming out of retirement. “It was a lot of fun and I am so grateful. It was so special to have the chance again to compete. I have never lost the competitiveness so to have another opportunity to have a crack was really special. I wanted to make the most of it because it could have been the last time.”
MVP Helen Housby showed why she is one of the league’s leading goalers, taking control of the super shot zone to reign in the score and keep Swifts in touch heading into the final term. She finished the match with 27/33 including 10 super shots.
With less than a minute to play Swifts levelled the game. Experts at delaying play, they took a single knowing they had the centre pass. Going long they fired the ball into Aiken-George who was alone under the post and secured the one point win.
It was also the second week in a row, and the third game this season that Fever lost in the dying moments.
TURNER V ARYANG
Swifts’ Maddy Turner was an omission in the recently named Australian Diamonds squad. Her performance today when compared to squad member, Sunday Aryang puts that decision into question. In perhaps her third most comfortable position of wing defence, Turner picked up a team high five deflections, showing her versatility across the three defensive positions, compared to Aryang’s two.
WILL SHE OR WON’T SHE?
On Tuesday, Netball England will name their squad vying for the July Netball World Cup. There could be a few surprise inclusions in the side, none more so than Fever’s Sasha Glasgow who put her hand up for both Diamonds and Roses selection, eligible thanks to her grandparents.
Covid IMPACTS
Due to Covid, Fever were without two of their playmakers in Sasha Glasgow and Jess Anstiss. Their absence is a timely reminder that despite Covid no longer being in the headlines, it is still hanging around. This begs the question, how will Covid impact the competition if more key players are missing in pinnacle matches?
– Warren Partland
Adelaide Thunderbirds’ home court 63-46 victory over Queensland Firebirds has come at a significant cost with injury concerns for Tippah Dwan and Latanya Wilson.
Goal attack Dwan skidded on the court and twisted her left ankle chasing a ball just a minute into the second quarter and had to be helped to the bench. Dwan emerged from the changeroom after halftime wearing a moon boot.
There was more injury drama for the Thunderbirds late in the fourth quarter when defender Wilson also had to be supported from the court, unable to put weight on her left leg.
And Thunderbirds’ gun shooter Eleanor Cardwell also has issues. The England international was replaced nine minutes into the second period and spoke with the team physio.
Although Cardwell joined in the warm up for the third quarter, her right knee was taped and she appeared proppy. She returned to the game in the final quarter.
The Firebirds have also been hit by injury with tough wing defence Gabi Simpson damaging her left ankle late in the second period.
Simpson had to be supported off the court and after treatment from Firebirds’ medical staff, the highly experienced midcourter was on crutches and her ankle heavily iced.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
Cardwell had grabbed the opportunity for some impromptu practice when the Firebirds called a time out in the opening quarter.
Tipped to replace Jo Harten as the England shooter at the World Cup in South Africa in July, Cardwell had missed three attempts so had a few practice shots with former Roses coach Tracey Neville, now an assistant with the Thunderbirds.
Cardwell then nailed her three attempts, before having more practice at the quarter time break.
Just a minute into the second period, Cardwell was moved to goal attack after Dwan left the game. Lucy Austin was introduced at shooter.
Nine minutes into the quarter, Georgie Horjus was given a rare run at goal attack when Cardwell left the court. Horjus’ first attempt was a successful two-point super shot.
PETTY ROLE
What is Thunderbirds’ captain Hannah Petty’s role?
The midcourter again started on the bench, with Tayla Williams the preferred option at centre.
Petty, who missed several games due to an ankle injury, replaced Williams for the second quarter and had a strong impact on the contest.
Used effectively off the bench in crucial moments this season, Petty had her own worries in the final quarter. She left the game to seek medical treatment on a leg problem.
DIAMONDS HOPE
Firebirds shooter Donnell Wallam is in contention for the Diamonds team for the World Cup and national selectors would have had a close eye on her efforts in Adelaide.
There are few tougher tests, if any, for shooters in the game than standing Jamaican Shamera Sterling, arguably the leading goal keeper in the world.
Wallam finished with 24 goals from 29 attempts, as well as five successful super shots from 13 attempts.
