THE Sunshine Coast Lightning have stamped their authority on the competition with a convincing win over the GIANTS. They continue to go from strength to strength, with the side unfazed by the raft of changes during the off-season.

It was on from the get-go with both sides playing a physical brand of netball. the GIANTS skipped out to an early three goal lead credit to goal attack and English international Jo Harten dominating in the goal circle. Harten controlled the flow in attack, feeding the ball effortlessly into shooting partner Caitlin Bassett while also putting up her fair share of shots. The goal attack was the leading goal scorer for the GIANTS in the opening term with nine from 10, showcasing her accuracy to post and ability to create space. The speed and precision of ball movement was on full show for the Lightning with Laura Scherian dicing through the midcourt and attacking third. She found good space on the circle edge and fed the ball into Peace Proscovia with ease. The whistle proved to be a major issue for the GIANTS defenders with Sam Poolman, Kristiana Manu’a and Amy Parmenter drawing plenty of attention from the umpires with a combined 16 penalties between them. But the GIANTS found a way to capitalise on turnovers and score off their centre passes, edging them ahead at quarter time to hold a one goal lead.

The GIANTS continued their hot form in the second quarter with precision passing and the connection in attack more free flowing. Harten impressed with her accuracy and volume while also highlighting her defensive ability picking up an impressive intercept right on the edge of the goal circle. Bassett continued to find good space and hold well in the circle while veteran, Kim Green showcased her skill around the circle edge with bullet-like passes into the shooters and fancy footwork to outmanoeuvre Madeline McAuliffe. For the Lightning, both Scherian and Steph Wood were imperative in attack creating that drive to separate the defenders. Wood was a real playmaker with her clever feeds into Proscovia while also making her presence felt on the scoreboard with her sweet shooting, but it was not enough to get them the lead, with the GIANTS creeping out to a three goal buffer.

After half time the tables well and truly turned with the Sunshine Coast Lightning piling on a whopping 25 goals to 14 in the third term alone. Proscovia took complete control in the goal circle, running rings around Poolman and forcing a change with youngster Teigan O’Shannassy coming on in the dying minutes of the quarter, but the damage was already done. Laura Langman kicked it up a gear with her impeccable vision, perfect passes and turn of speed carving through the defence of the GIANTS. It was not only her attacking efforts that impressed, with her work in defence equally as good, picking up an intercept and a gain credit to her tenacity and timing. Her opposition centre, Jamie-Lee Price did a wealth of work through the midcourt, winning the ball back for her side and running with Langman. The defensive-minded centre showcased her attacking flair with some eye catching feeds and quick feet to hit the circle edge with seven feeds and four goal assists. Phumza Maweni and Karla Pretorius came into their own with the pair confusing the space and injecting themselves into the game. Pretorius really flexed her muscles with one intercept, two gains and two deflections in the third term alone, testament to her speed off the mark and ability to read the play and do so cleanly. The wheels were starting to fall off for the GIANTS who had no answers for the immense pressure applied by the Lightning, going into the final change down by eight goals.

Julie Fitzgerald showed that she was not afraid to make some big changes, benching star shooter Harten and brining on youngster Kiera Austin in the final term. She had an immediate impact, showcasing her composure and accuracy scoring seven from seven. She paired well with Bassett who finished the game with 31 from 36 at 86 per cent in her first game against her old side. Langman only grew in stature as the game went on, with the veteran Silver Ferns centre showcasing her sheer strength and endurance. The Lightning’s third quarter dominance allowed Cara Koenen to come on for a cameo appearance late in the fourth, slotting eight from nine at 89 per cent, showcasing her ability to be an impact player. The GIANTS lifted in intensity with Price getting her hands on just about everything picking up two intercepts and two gains while after a quiet game Parmenter collected a much needed intercept, but it was all but too late for the GIANTS to mount a comeback going down by 11 goals.

STARTING LINE-UP:

Sunshine Coast Lightning:

GS |Peace Proscovia
GA |Steph Wood
WA |Laura Scherian
C |Laura Langman
WD |Madeline McAuliffe
GD |Karla Pretorius
GK |Phumza Maweni

GWS GIANTS:

GS |Caitlin Bassett
GA |Jo Harten
WA |Kim Green
C |Jamie-Lee Price
WD |Amy Parmenter
GD |Kristiana Manu’a
GK |Sam Poolman