IT was a massive day at Parkville with another eight games of Team Girls Cup action, and the finalists decided for today’s last four games. All the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) sides could take something from the day, with Melbourne Vixens and West Coast Fever finishing top in their respective Pools.

POOL A:

It was the Melbourne Vixens who finished on top of the Pool in front of a home crowd, following their last game win over fellow undefeated side, Sunshine Coast Lightning. The previous day the Lightning and NSW Swifts had drawn, whilst the Vixens claimed the win over the Queensland Firebirds, but by the end of the second day, all sides would have points on the board.

Sunshine Coast Lightning (50) defeated Queensland Firebirds (45)

The first game was an absolute cracker, as the Lightning fought back from an eight-goal quarter time deficit to run out five-oal winners thanks to a starring final term. New recruit Donnell Wallam piled on 11 goals in the opening term to help guide the Firebirds to a 17-9 lead, but the Lightning clawed their way back with a 14-6 second term. Though the third term was even, a 17-11 last quarter resulted in the Lightning getting the win, coming from a goal down at the final break to run away with it in the end.

Wallam finished with 24 goals from 31 attempts, whilst Gretel Bueta (10 from 12) and Mia Stower (Five from six) all contirbuted. Kim Ravaillion stood out from the midcourters with 10 goal assists from 18 feeds, and had a deflection as well. For the Lightning, Diamonds duo Cara Koenen (23 goals from 28 attempts) and Steph Wood (11 from 15) looked good, as did Reilley Batcheldor (12 from 19) despite some inaccuracy, whilst Kadie-Ann Dehaney impressed in her new colours with three deflections, and intercept and a rebound.

Melbourne Vixens (32) defeated NSW Swifts (26)

Melbourne Vixens also held firm in an ultra-defensive second half, scoring 14 goals to seven in order to run out six-goal winners over NSW Swifts. The Vixens started strongly, but the Swifts hit back in the second term to lead by a goal at the main break. The second half only had 21 goals scored compared to 37 in the first half, but that was good enough for the Vixens, restricting the Swifts to just seven – including two in the final term – to notch up the 32-26 victory.

Rahni Samason was on fire, shooting 24 goals from 28 attempts, whilst new recruit Olivia Lewis slotted in seamlessly alongside Emily Mannix. The pair combined for four intercepts and 10 deflections, with Mannix also picking up four rebounds. Maddy Proud was unsurprisingly terrific for the Swifts, notching up 16 goal assists from 29 feeds, whilst Helen Housby scored 11 goals from 13 attempts, though was ruled out of the second match with injury, meaning the Swifts were without both first choice shooters for the final match.

Queensland Firebirds (41) defeated NSW Swifts (41)

With no Housby or Sam Wallace, the Swifts took on the Firebirds with a very young attacking end, as Kelly Singleton and Laura Towell took the reins. After a fast start, the Swifts raced out to a 22-17 lead at half-time, but then Wallam and the Firebirds roped them in. Though neither side could top the group, the Firebirds’ 25-19 second half was enough for the Queensland side to secure its first points of the tournament.

Fittingly it was a Bueta goal in the final 30 seconds that sealed it, with a Supershot miss from Towell narrowly saving the Firebirds from a last-ditch loss. Bueta finished with 12 goals from 13 attempts, with Wallam shooting 21 of 23. Ravaillion (10 goal assists from 13 feeds) and Ruby Bakewell-Doran (five deflections, two intercepts and two rebounds) were also impressive. Singleton (19 goals from 27 attempts) and Towell (18 from 21) held up the defensive end well, as Paige Hadley had a game-high 12 goal assists.

Melbourne Vixens (44) defeated Sunshine Coast Lightning (38)

In the final match of the day, the Vixens booked their spot against the Fever with a six-goal win over the Lightning. The home side did all its best work early, securing a five-goal quarter time lead which it held at the main break. That continued into the third term, when the Vixens doubled their lead, before the Lightning hit back in the last quarter. It was a case of too little, too late however, as the Vixens ran out 44-38 winners.

Samason was again busy in the shooting circle with 28 goals from 31 attempts, whilst Ruby Barkmeyer (nine of 11, four deflections and one intercept) aided here well. Liz Watson (15 goal assists from 24 feeds) was phenomenal, whilst the defensive combination of Mannix and Jo Weston was outstanding. For the Lightning, Koenen (12 goals from 16 attempts) and Batcheldor (14 from 16) did the bulk of the scoring.

POOL B:

Though it was the West Coast Fever who ended up topping the group, it did come down to the deciding match, with the Adelaide Thunderbirds winning two games, and the Collingwood Magpies getting on the board against GIANTS Netball.

West Coast Fever (40) defeated Adelaide Thunderbirds (28)

After an even first term of eight goals apiece, the West Coast Fever stepped it up a notch, piling on 23 goals to 12 in the second half to run away with the contest against the Thunderbirds, 40-28. The 12-goal win was off the back of not only typical shooting from Jhaniele Fowler, but having plenty of support from Sasha Glasgow, as the Fever made it two from two after a win against the GIANTS the day before.

Fowler scored 21 goals from 22 attempts, as Glasgow chipped in with 13 of 15, and the Fever shooting circle looked incredibly dangerous. Rotating plenty of players on court, Emma Cosh (eight goal assists from 14 feeds and one goal from two attempts) and Verity Simmons (nee Charles) (seven goal assists from 13 feeds and a deflection were both lively. For the Thunderbirds, Lenize Potgieter (14 goals from 15 attempts and four rebounds) and Georgie Horjus (six from nine and one rebound) scored well, as Tippah Dwan had a team-high nine goal assists from 11 feeds to accompany three goals.

Collingwood Magpies (48) defeated GIANTS Netball (38)

Collingwood kept its hopes of a finals place alive with an important 10-goal victory over the GIANTS. Whilst it put a line through the GIANTS’ chances, the Magpies looked the goods, with Shimona Nelson being a force to be reckoned with at goal shooter. The Magpies blew the GIANTS away in the middle two quarters, scoring 25-15 in what was an otherwise even game for the remaining two quarters. Those bursts lead to black and white side to the 48-38 victory.

Nelson powered away with 38 goals from 40 attempts and three rebounds, whilst Sophie Garbin (11 goal assists, three goals from five attempts, one intercept and one deflection) and Kelsey Browne (12 goal assists) were both clinical with their feeds. Jo Harten managed 12 goals from 14 attempts as the orange and charcoal side rotated its goalers. Matisse Letherbarrow (eight from 10) and Sophie Dwyer (seven from nine, and two rebounds) were the other key scorers.

Adelaide Thunderbirds (38) defeated GIANTS Netball (37)

The Thunderbirds bounced back from their disappointing loss to the Fever with a nail-biting one-goal win over GIANTS Netball. The GIANTS looked to have the game covered after a strong third term, to open up a four-goal lead heading into the final break. It would prove not to be enough however, as the Thunderbirds scored 12-7 to secure the one-goal win. A Super Shot on the final whistle cut the deficit back to one, with the GIANTS heartbreakingly falling short.

Harten (19 goals from 20 attempts, four goal assists and one rebound) and Dwyer (15 from 20, six goal assists and one rebound) formed their strong partnership, with Diamond Jamie-Lee Price racking up a match-high 14 goal assists, as well as three deflections in the loss. Potgieter shot 23 of 28 for the Thunderbirds, whilst Horjus was outstanding in both goal attack and wing attack, picking up 12 goal assists, more than any other Thunderbirds player. Shamera Sterling (three intercepts, two deflections and two rebounds) looked impressive when on court.

West Coast Fever (50) defeated Collingwood Magpies (40)

The Fever topped the group with a dominant 10-goal win over the Magpies, but there was plenty of take out of the game from both sides. Though Fowler ended up having another huge game, it was an emerging Magpies defender who caught the eye, whilst a number of other contributors impressed. The Fever did most of their best work in the first half, scoring 25 goals to 17, and whilst the Magpies drew within four at the final break, the West Australian side steadied in the last term to run out 50-40 victors.

Fowler scored 36 from 38 in a high-volume effort, supported well once again by Glasgow (six goals at 100 per cent efficiency, 10 goal assists from 12 feeds). Courtney Bruce was phenomenal in defence with three intercepts, three deflections and two rebounds, whilst Simmons amassed a whopping 21 goal assists from 27 feeds with slick passing. For the Magpies, Jacqui Newton was outstanding on Fowler, picking up three intercepts and really making the tall Jamaican earn every goal. Garbin took the lead in the game from scoring, putting up 18 goals from 22 attempts, as well as six goal assists.

Today’s Finals:

7th placed final: NSW Swifts vs. GIANTS Netball
5th placed final: Queensland Firebirds vs. Collingwood Magpies
3rd placed final: Sunshine Coast Lightning vs. Adelaide Thunderbirds
1st placed final: Melbourne Vixens vs. West Coast Fever