SUNSHINE Coast Lightning have finished their season on a high, defeating cross-state rivals the Queensland Firebirds 66-60 in Round 14 of the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) yesterday. In a match befitting of a Queensland derby, the Lightning had to battle past blood rules and a strong start from the Firebirds to take the win.

Off the back of an excellent intercept by Remi Kamo, it was the Firebirds who scored the first four goals of the game to take the early lead.

At times the Lightning were struggling to get through the midcourt defence of the Firebirds, which helped the visitors maintain their early lead. But slowly but surely the Lightning worked their way back into the game as their defence pressure increased.

Even though the Lightning did manage to level things up just shy of the halfway mark of the term, Kamo was still causing a lot of problems for the home side.

Momentum switched several times in the back end of the quarter, but with one last Super Shot from Emily Moore it was the Firebirds who held a two goal lead at the first change.

It remained tight early in the second term as the midcourt defence remained strong and both teams traded blows.

The Firebirds did eventually start to grow their lead a bit further, but just like the first quarter the Lightning worked their way back into the game and got within one before a Super Shot from Donnell Wallam stopped the run. But then just as quickly a Super Shot from Steph Wood saw the margin drop back down to one again.

Wood then had to leave the court due to the blood rule, and the Firebirds took the opportunity to streak back ahead. Two late Super Shots from Wallam saw the Firebirds’ lead sit at six goals at the main break.

The Firebirds maintained their lead in the early stages of the second half, and even grew it out to as much as eight goals. But just as the first half of the third term ended, crisis struck the Firebirds when Wallam had to leave the court with an ankle injury.

However until the Power Five, it did not look like Wallam’s departure was going to be too much of an issue. But with one Super Shot from Wood, the Lightning started to change momentum, and with a minute and a half left in the term the Lightning took the lead.

Wallam was able to return to court and helped stem the momentum of the Lightning slightly. But ultimately when the three quarter time buzzer went, both teams were dead even.

The Lightning continued where they left off from the third quarter early in the fourth quarter, scoring four of the first five goals to cement an early lead. Things started to then fall apart for the Firebirds as the Lightning lead grew and grew to as much as 10 goals.

Despite a late Firebirds fightback, it was not enough as the Lightning still came away with the win.

Kadie-Ann Dehaney (seven gains, six deflections, six rebounds) had another strong game for the Lightning, as did Karla Pretorius (five gains, five deflections, two rebounds, one intercept) and Wood (14 regular goals, three Super Shots, 32 feeds, 25 assists).

Meanwhile for the Firebirds Kamo (six gains, four deflections, three rebounds, one intercept), Lara Dunkley (35 feeds, 20 assists) and Wallam (35 regular goals, eight Super Shots, two feeds, three rebounds) all starred.  

SUNSHINE COAST LIGHTNING     16 | 15 | 16 | 19 (66)
QUEENSLAND FIREBIRDS             18 | 19 | 10 | 13 (60)

STARTING SEVENS

Sunshine Coast Lightning

GS: Cara Koenen
GA: Steph Wood
WA: Laura Scherian
C: Mahalia Cassidy
WD: Ava Black
GD: Karla Pretorius
GK: Ash Ervin

Queensland Firebirds

GS: Donnell Wallam
GA: Emily Moore
WA: Lara Dunkley
C: Kim Ravaillion
WD: Gabi Simpson
GD: Ruby Bakewell-Doran
GK: Remi Kamo