THE top four Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) battle between the GIANTS and Sunshine Coast Lightning went right down to the wire as Peace Proscovia proved to be the extra time hero with a goal on the siren (64-63).

In her 100th SSN game, Steph Wood wasted no time finding the sweet spot with an early goal before Sophie Dwyer did the same thing up the other end for the GIANTS. Cara Koenen got off to a solid start with the goal shooter utilising the backspace to evade Sam Poolman. It was goal for goal to start the term with both sides capitalising off their centre pass as they attempted to build some momentum. It was an attacking game with both shooting circles impressing with their accuracy to post. A held ball call fell the way of the Lightning but Poolman read the play like a book to regain possession as the GIANTS levelled the margin once more. Transition was clean from both sides with Koenen finding good space under the post while Wood seemed to have the ball on a string. The first miss of the game came after five minutes as Karla Pretorius pounced on the rebound but simply could not make the most of the turnover.

A huge deflection from Jamie-Lee Price sent the GIANTS into attack as they slotted three goals in a row to swing the lead in their favour. Jo Harten upped the ante inside the goal circle as Dwyer continued her charge to the post. the party tricks started to come out for the GIANTS as Harten slotted a super shot with the lead ballooning to five goals within a matter of seconds. Both sides adopted various approaches to the super shot with the Lightning opting for the traditional route to post as the GIANTS plugged away at the long bombs. The shooter to shooter combination between Wood and Koenen was on fire with the pair working in overdrive to peg the margin back and go into quarter time at 16 goals apiece.

The Lightning made a couple of changes in the defensive end with Kate Shimmin entering the fray in wing defence with her long arms paying dividends immediately. An early turnover gifted the Lightning the early break as they nailed back-to-back goals to open up a two goal lead. Mahalia Cassidy found her groove in centre, while Laura Scherian came to life with her pinpoint feeds into Koenen allowing Sunshine Coast to keep their noses in front ever so slightly. But every time the Lightning got a sniff the GIANTS found a way to flick the switch slotting three goals straight to steal back the lead. Phumza Maweni and Pretorius were working in overdrive to push Harten out of the circle as the home side started to pull away.

Up by three goals at half time the GIANTS quickly ate into the deficit. Matilda McDonell proved to be the spark the visitors needed with the goal keeper immediately into the action with a huge deflection. Things started to fall the way of the GIANTS with a breaking call gifting possession back to the orange and charcoal as they culled the margin to a mere goal. Maddie Hay came into the play with her silky movement around circle edge while Amy Parmenter sent teammates into raptures with her impressive intercept around circle edge. Momentum well and truly switched hands as the GIANTS established a handy one-goal lead before he game once again turned into a goal for goal battle. The experienced heads of Wood and Scherian started to come into play for the Lightning as they settled into the term.

Cassidy starred with a deflection with Maweni there to pick up the scraps as Sunshine Coast hit back to regain control with their cool, calm and collected passage of play down the court. The tables well and truly started to turn as the Lightning crept out to a handy five goal lead. But the GIANTS were not done with yet as they forced turnovers in attack for Sunshine Coast and took advantage of the super shot to reduce the deficit. Injury struck with Wood forced to the bench clutching her knee as the Lightning were forced into panic stations as Proscovia entered the fray in goal shooter and Koenen pushed into goal attack. Dwyer landed a huge blow on the siren with a super shot to cut the margin back to a goal at three quarter time.

It was goal for goal to start the final term before the GIANTS came up with a loose ball to tie things up. The intensity was well and truly up for both sides with no pass left uncontested as the Lightning and GIANTS worked tirelessly to claim some type of momentum. April Brandley was forced from the court after rolling her ankle prompting Kristiana Manu’a to enter the game in at goal defence. With the game on the line Pretorius sprung into action with a huge intercept with Proscovia rewarding her for her efforts as the Lightning snuck out to a two-goal lead. it was a chaotic final couple of minutes as Dwyer levelled the scores with just under two minutes left to play before nailing another super shot to steal the lead. Neither side could be separated at the final siren as the game was sent into extra time.

Dwyer had ice in her veins nailing another super shot as the GIANTS held sway for majority of the extra time period. But a huge offensive contact from the star goal attack with less than 30 seconds left in the game gifted possession back to the Lightning as the Proscovia landed the sealer.

Koenen upped the ante under the post for the Lightning finishing with 30 goals to her name at 97 per cent accuracy, as partner in crime Wood slotted 13 goals from 17 attempts before getting injured  Proscovia was accurate to post nailing 21 from 22. Scherian was crafty through the midcourt with her 20 goal assists as Pretorius fired on all cylinders amassing three intercepts and three deflections. Harten continued her merry way with 33 goals. She partnered well once again with Dwyer who managed 22 goals at 76 per cent including six super shots as Price found her groove around circle edge with 23 goal assists.

SUNSHINE COAST LIGHTNING 16 | 15 | 14 | 15  | 4 (63)
GIANTS NETBALL 16 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 3 (62)

STARTING SEVEN: 

Lightning:

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

GIANTS: 

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