ROUND 5 of Suncorp Super Netball action began with a bang on Saturday, and Sunday’s opening contest would be no less intense as the Adelaide Thunderbirds pushed the Sunshine Coast Lightning all the way in another close encounter. While the Thunderbirds took charge on home turf after a trailing the first quarter in a seesawing contest, a last ditch effort from the Lightning saw Steph Wood stand up and deliver the Lightning a one goal 59-58 win to ensure they retain second place on the ladder.

A goal for goal start to the match set the tone, as neither side was willing to relinquish possession and if they did, were quick to chase it up and make it count. All four goalers were quick to get on the board with tight defence forcing plenty of passes around, as Thunderbirds’ combination of Lenize Potgieter and Georgie Horjus ironed out issues from the get-go and Lightning’s dynamic duo in Cara Koenen and Wood showed no signs of missing early on. But it would not take long for the international goal keepers to get their hand in, with the likes of Shamera Sterling and Phumza Maweni working overtime and proving critical as the two sides traded the lead. A super shot miss from the Thunderbirds put an end to the goal for goal start as the Lightning snatched a marginal lead, with a Wood super shot sealing a three-goal lead at the first change.

Neither side was really starring up the court as the second began, with the Lightning keeping their usual class and tempo across the court, while the Thunderbirds worked in overdrive to produce turnover ball but fell short on conversions with messiness through the midcourt. Five straight from the Thunderbirds – four of which went the way of Horjus – saw the home side take the lead for the first time before three from the Lightning evened up the ledger once more at 21 apiece midway through the term. It was Maisie Nankivell that took charge in the second out the front, playing her non-traditional wing attack position but bringing her physicality and hunt with it to nab a couple of vital intercepts. Where Shadine Van Der Merwe had been quiet early, she worked well to shut down the drives and circle work of Laura Scherian as the Lightning took the finger off the pulse slightly, seeing the Thunderbirds trail 29-30 at half time.

The second half saw a change in the Lightning front-end as Peace Proscovia took the place of Koenen, with the goaler struggling to make use of her timely goalline drives credit to the work rate of Sterling and Matilda Garrett, who continued her excellent form making life hard for Wood to remain accurate. But Proscovia’s injection did not quite have the desired effect while Wood struggled to find the post, although things were far from perfect for the Thunderbirds who were still having issues in transition from defence as the ball flew back and forth. While Horjus’ evasiveness continued to shine, a couple of intercepts from Karla Pretorius and Maweni kept the Lightning in it with a one-goal deficit heading into the final break.

The final quarter saw both sides come out with a fire in the belly as a huge 15 minutes loomed. Goal for goal to begin the quarter, it took three straight from Koenen to reduce the deficit to just one as the Thunderbirds remained ahead but struggling with composure being the hunted side. Sterling’s ability to find the high ball continued to pay dividends at the dying stages of the term, and it did not take long before the Thunderbirds had a six-goal lead with seven minutes left on the clock – but that was when the super shot period took centre stage, as did Wood. Wood put up a super shot to take the Lightning to within two with four and a half minutes on the clock, and while Horjus put another super shot on the board, as Wood and Potgieter went goal-for-goal once more, Wood’s nerves of steel took over to sink one from range to take the one goal lead with the next centre pass, holding on in a huge win.

Defensively, both teams starred with plenty to be impressed by throughout the contest. Maweni finished with six intercepts – four in the first term alone – while Pretorius collected three and Kate Shimmin worked hard for two in her 30 minutes out of position in wing defence. Out the front, Wood finished with 16 goals and five of seven super shots and an intercept to go with her 15 goal assists, as Koenen (26 goals from 28 attempts) and Proscovia (seven from eight) were highly effective to post. Sterling and Garrett starred for the Thunderbirds, with the former able to showcase her seven gains (three intercepts, two rebounds and one deflection resulting in a gain from 11) credit to the work rate of the latter (two intercepts). Nankivell’s two intercepts and 26 assists proved handy although her six general play turnovers proved costly, while Hannah Petty worked hard to grind down the impact of Mahalia Cassidy and force the change in centre to Maddy McAuliffe. Potgieter (34 from 35) was more hesitant to put up goals than usual while Horjus showcased her willingness to turn and shoot, finishing with 22 from 25.

ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS
SUNSHINE COAST LIGHTNING 

STARTING SEVENS:

Thunderbirds

GS: Lenize Potgieter
GA: Georgie Horjus
WA: Maisie Nankivell
C: Hannah Petty
WD: Shadine Van Der Merwe
GD: Matilda Garrett
GK: Shamera Sterling

Lightning

GS: Cara Koenen
GA: Steph Wood
WA: Laura Scherian
C: Mahalia Cassidy
WD: Maddy McAuliffe
GD: Karla Pretorius
GK: Phumza Maweni

Picture credit: AAP