IN a battle to keep their finals hopes alive, it was the GIANTS that came out on top against Adelaide Thunderbirds (64-54). The Thunderbirds had all the answers in the first quarter but the GIANTS fought back highlighting their experience and class against a young side missing co-captain Chelsea Pitman.

Jamie-Lee Price got things underway for the GIANTS in the centre and while it was laboured to work the ball down into attack it was the travelling side that drew first blood. Shamera Sterling was on song early with the goal keeper out hunting and picking up an intercept however Sam Poolman proved she could replicate her opposition goal keepers feats picking up a clever gain. Kiera Austin seemed to be the main avenue to goal with the goal attack nailing the first three goals of the game for the GIANTS as Jo Harten’s radar was well and truly off unable to hit the scoreboard. The speed and conversion of Adelaide was hurting the GIANTS as the home side skipped out to a handy two-goal buffer. Harten sunk her first goal of the game with a tick over six minutes played showcasing just how smothering Sterling was in defence. The lead continued to ebb and flow as the GIANTS worked their way back into the contest nailing three consecutive goals to edge ahead by a goal.

The GIANTS pushed narrowly ahead however they had their work cut out for them down back as Sterling showcased her strength on the rebound to block out Harten and send the ball back down the court. The long bomb passes from the Thunderbirds was working well, bypassing the mess with Lenize Potgieter continuously delivering under the post. With the scoreboard ticking down the Thunderbirds snuck ahead again thanks to a couple of strong defensive plays with each and every player hustling for the loose ball. Sterling brought out the party tricks with a huge rejection while a costly off-side from Price enabled the Thunderbirds to quickly transition down court and capitalise.

Out by three goals at quarter time the GIANTS ate into that deficit with Maddie Hay highlighting her defensive attributes to pick up an intercept. Inaccuracy seemed to plague the GIANTS with Harten and Austin missing four consecutive shots however they toiled away cutting the margin to a mere goal. The defensive pressure from the GIANTS was immense with hands three-foot marking seeming to be the focal point for both sides. The GIANTS levelled the score as they engaged in a goal for goal dance with neither side able to pull away. Kristiana Manu’a came to life in the second quarter with the goal defence coming out hunting. The battle between the two centres was physical with Maisie Nankivell and Price going toe-to-toe and racking up the penalties in the process.

Out in the unfamiliar position of wing attack, Georgie Horjus steadily worked herself into the contest combining seamlessly with Potgieter. The Thunderbirds rallied in the final six minutes of the term, hitting their straps in defence to regain possession and convert on the opportunity to re-establish a two goal lead forcing the GIANTS into a timeout. The GIANTS tinkered their line-up across the court with April Brandley entering the game at goal defence as Manu’a pushed out to wing defence while Amy Parmenter found herself in centre. The changes seemed to work wonders picking up plenty of ball. Austin found her range from the super shot sinking three straight as they skipped out to a three goal buffer. The momentum had well and truly swung into the GIANTS favour with their ball movement down court on full display as their increased defensive pressure caused havoc for Adelaide.

It was a fast start to the third term for the GIANTS, bursting out of the blocks to register the first three goals and extend the lead. but the Thunderbirds quickly answered the call going on a three goal run of their own. Searching for answers in attack the Thunderbirds threw the bibs around with Sasha Glasgow heading to the bench and Horjus making her way into the goal attack position while Hannah Petty was injected into the game in centre. Coming out of the timeout the Thunderbirds looked to attack with some real intent and peg the margin back while the GIANTS maintained their composure. Austin starred on the transverse line with a big intercept while Parmenter’s drive through the centre was second to none.

The combination of Layla Guscoth and Shadine van der Merwe were doing a wealth of work to bring the ball down the court and help out in attack. the duo really started to kick into gear collecting a couple of loose passes with Potgieter rewarding them for effort. Sterling was getting plenty of hands to ball, creating tips on the shot but the GIANTS managed to regain possession time and time again to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Holding a game high 12-goal buffer the GIANTS did not skip a beat despite making a couple of changes with Price re-entering the game in centre and Parmenter switching into wing attack. Harten brought out the party tricks with an intercept followed up by a layup as the ball seemed to fall the way of the GIANTS. Kate Shimmin was injected into the game but that did not seem to faze the GIANTS who had the ball on a string and continued to add to their lead. Despite a couple of late super shots from Horjus the GIANTS stood tall notching up a 10-goal victory.

The South African was her usual dominant self under the post racking up a game high 41 goals at 97 per cent accuracy, while Glasgow struggled to find her range sinking five goals in her 34 minutes on court. Through the midcourt it is hard to go past the efforts of Nankivell with the centre doing a wealth of work to collect 22 goal assists and two gains, while Parmenter was equally as impressive with 12 goal assists and two intercepts. In the shooting circle for the GIANTS, it was Austin that led the way with 30 goals, four of which were super shots and walked away with player of the match honours, while after a shaky start, Harten found her rhythm finishing with 28 goals at 76 per cent. Sterling was unmatched defensively in a stats stuffing performance walking away with eight gains, two of which were intercepts along with 10 deflections and five rebounds.

>>> THUNDERBIRDS TEAM PAGE
>>> GIANTS TEAM PAGE
>>> FULL MATCH STATS

— 

Adelaide Thunderbirds 13 | 10 | 13 | 18 (54)
GIANTS Netball 10 | 18 | 20 | 16 (64)

STARTING SEVEN:

Adelaide Thunderbirds:

GS: Lenize Potgieter
GA: Sasha Glasgow
WA: Georgie Horjus
C: Maisie Nankivell
WD: Shadine van der Merwe
GD: Layla Guscoth
GK: Shamera Sterling

GIANTS Netball:

GS: Jo Harten
GA: Kiera Austin
WA: Maddie Hay
C: Jamie-Lee Price
WD: Amy Parmenter
GD: Kristiana Manu’a
GK: Sam Poolman