ROUND 6 of Suncorp Super Netball over the weekend saw some phenomenal matchups across all four games and some highly talented players take the court. The condensed fixture and introduction of rolling subs this year have seen plenty of young names already jump on the court and have a huge impact despite their lack of experience. We take a look at each game and note which players shifted the gears and switched up the momentum.

NSW Swifts (60) defeated Collingwood Magpies (58)

Neck and neck for most of the contest it was NSW Swifts and England Roses goaler, Helen Housby who turned the tables in the Swifts favour in the last quarter. Slipping back into the goal shooter position, Housbly oozed nothing but class and composure in the goal circle, going toe-to-toe with her Roses teammate Geva Mentor and using her clever timing to exploit the defender along the baseline. Her connection with Sophie Garbin and Natalie Haythornthwaite was influential with the attacking trio finding good rhythm to engage in the give and go under the post and keep the scoreboard ticking over. Housby did not miss a goal, sinking 10 straight, one of which a super shot to get her side over the line and claim their fifth win of the season.

West Coast Fever (57) defeated by Queensland Firebirds (68)

Looking for their first win of the season, the Firebirds’ second quarter well and truly set the tone for the rest of the match as the increased defensive effort from Tara Hinchliffe and Kim Jenner put a halt to the Fever attacking unit. The Queensland defensive duo shut down each and every drive in the attacking third and smothered Jhaniele Fowler to limit her to nine goals for the quarter while piling on 19 of their own thanks to Romelda Aiken and Tippah Dwan. Hinchliffe owned the front space against the towering shooter, contesting the high ball coming into the circle while Jenner nullified both Alice Teague-Neeld and Kaylia Stanton with neither goal attack able to sink a shot or find any room to feed into the Jamaican goaler. This quarter ultimately changed the flow of the game as the Firebirds wrestled the momentum from the Fever to open up a handy lead and keep their foot on the pedal for the rest of the game to win their first game of the season.

Melbourne Vixens (63) defeated GIANTS Netball (58)

Struggling in the opening term to find their signature movement in the goal circle the injection of Mwai Kumwenda in the third term paid dividends for the top of the table Melbourne Vixens. Kumwenda made full use of her athleticism, sparking her side into action with her clever holds and accuracy to post. The goal shooter combined seamlessly with Caitlin Thwaites out in goal attack as the moving circle caused headaches for the GIANTS defenders in Sam Poolman and Kristiana Manu’a. Kumwenda came out firing on all cylinders with Poolman unable to control the Malawian shooter prompting Matilda McDonnell to take the court however the Vixens shooter was not fazed nailing a whopping 15 goals from 16 attempts and linking up with Liz Watson and Kate Moloney to arrest control of the game.

Sunshine Coast Lightning (53) defeated Adelaide Thunderbirds (45)

Holding a narrow two goal lead at three quarter time, the Lightning shook up their attack with Peace Proscovia entering the game in at goal shooter, Cara Koenen shuffling into goal attack and Steph Wood into wing attack. The move worked wonders for the Lightning as they found more space and fluidity in the goal circle. Wood delivered the ball on a silver platter to both Koenen and Proscovia under the post using her impressive vision and game awareness to amass six goal assists and set up attacking forays time and time again to cut through the Thunderbirds’ defence. Proscovia came on with a hot hand slotting seven goals straight while Koenen relished the extra court space racking up two goal assists to go with her seven goals for the term. The change up caught the Thunderbirds off guard as the unit of Shamera Sterling, Shadine van der Merwe, Layla Guscoth and Kate Shimmin struggled to find an answer for the Lightning in attack.