APRIL Brandley will certainly not forget her final Suncorp Super Netball League match in a hurry, as her GIANTS Netball came from behind to defeat the Melbourne Vixens 60-57. After being behind for almost the entire match, the GIANTS took the lead for the first time with 40 seconds left in the match and held on for the win.

It was the Melbourne Vixens who got off to a much stronger start to the game though, scoring four of the first five goals to take the early lead. The GIANTS pulled a few goals back, but the Vixens still maintained their lead.

There was a distinct difference in the pace of passes between the two sides, with the visitors generally having a way quicker ball speed in their passes than their hosts. 

The margin sat at four goals at the start of the Power Five, but with a Super Shot from Jo Harten the GIANTS were quickly back within one. However they were unable to take the lead as the Vixens retook control late in the quarter.

With another late Super Shot, this time from Sophie Dwyer, the margin sat at a single goal in favour of the Vixens at the first change.

The Vixens added a few quick goals early in the second term to restore a bit of a buffer in their favour. They could not really capitalise on that though as a few wayward passes really hurt them, but the GIANTS were not perfect with their passes either.

The Vixens were four goals ahead as the Power Five came and progressed, but then the GIANTS changed around their shooting circle – including putting Harten out at goal attack – and saw some rewards straight away with the deficit halved.

The Vixens were then quick to restore their four-goal lead though and grew it even further, but at half time the lead ultimately sat at five goals the difference in favour of the Vixens.

The stats were relatively the same at half time, with a higher shooting accuracy in favour of the Vixens the main difference.

Even with the lead in their possession, the Vixens decided to change things up in the third term and make a couple of changes to their on court line up. They saw some reward early as the margin got out to as much as eight goals.

The GIANTS then recovered from conceding that quick start to the Vixens and were able to bring the margin back down to where it was at half time.

Melbourne restored its lead to as much as seven the difference, but with a continuation in the high number of intercepts from both sides, the result was not as certain as the scoreboard may have suggested.

The GIANTS proved that as such in the Power Five when they found their range from Super Shot territory to bring the margin back to as little as three goals.

After momentum switched multiple times in the Power Five, one very late Super Shot from Mwai Kumwenda saw the margin sit at four in the Vixens’ favour heading into the last term.

Both sides continued to ring in the changes in the final quarter, and off the back of an increased in conversions of defensive turnovers from the GIANTS, the home side got within one of their visitors.

Just as the Power Five was about to kick off, the GIANTS then levelled up proceedings as an already intense and physical game of netball became even more intense.

The Vixens then got a few goals ahead but then another Super Shot from Harten ensured it was all tied up again.

With about 40 seconds to go the GIANTS took a narrow lead, and with two seconds left they drained another Super Shot to secure the win.

Maddie Hay (27 feeds, 14 assists, three gains, two intercepts, one deflection) was a real driving force through midcourt for the GIANTS, while Brandley (four gains, three intercepts, three deflections) had a really solid final game of elite netball.

Meanwhile for the Vixens Emily Mannix (seven gains, four intercepts, two deflections, two rebounds) was impressive in defence, while Liz Watson (42 feeds, 25 assists, one gain, one intercept) was also a driving force in midcourt.

GIANTS NETBALL           16 | 13 | 17 | 14 (60)
MELBOURNE VIXENS     17 | 17 | 16 | 7 (57)

STARTING SEVENS

GIANTS Netball

GS: Jo Harten
GA: Sophie Dwyer
WA: Maddie Hay
C: Jamie-Lee Price
WD: Amy Parmenter
GD: April Brandley
GK: Matilda McDonell

Melbourne Vixens

GS: Mwai Kumwenda
GA: Kiera Austin
WA: Liz Watson
C: Kate Moloney
WD: Kate Eddy
GD: Jo Weston
GK: Emily Mannix