The Suncorp Super Netball league’s 5th Round offered everything an elite international domestic league should – dominant defence, last second winners and fantastic all-round entertainment.
Here are just some of the international players that stood out this week…
Giants 59 – 55 Collingwood Magpies
It was a game of two halves for Magpies and Giants, with the Giants storming into the first quarter before the Magpies swooped in at the end, winning the last quarter 10-17 and nearly stealing the match.
It is usually Giants that turn to the Super Shot, but it in this match it was Magpies who tried to utilise it in the final 15-minutes, however it just wasn’t enough with Giants clinging on to win 59-55 thanks to their strong start to the match.
A stand-out Giants player in this victory was Australian Diamond Amy Parmenter, who made four gains and three interceptions, and was a key part of the defensive line-up.
Giants victory is only their second of the season.
Thunderbirds 61 – 50 Vixens
Nothing could separate these two sides in the first 15-minutes of this match, but as the second quarter got underway Thunderbirds showed just why they are title contenders winning the remaining three quarters and the match.
As the match progressed the Thunderbirds defensive pressure was certainly something for Vixen’s to be fearful off, with Jamaican Sunshine Girl Latanya Wilson allowing Australian Diamond Liz Watson no room at all, keeping Watson down to her lowest circle feed tally of the season so far with only 30 to her name.
The domination from the Thunderbirds defence continued into the centre third, with Captain Hannah Petty and Tayla Williams shutting down the Vixen’s attack at every given opportunity.
The victory means that Thunderbirds now sit 2nd in the league table, behind Fever.
Firebirds 71 – 73 Fever
Speaking of Fever, their undefeated record continued as they beat Firebirds 71-73 in Round 5 to remain top of the table.
It was a Jhaniele Fowler led Fever party in the first quarter, with the Jamaican Sunshine Girl unstoppable again under the post.
Fowler’s fellow shooting partner, Australian Diamond Sasha Glasgow was equally as impressive as she acted as the play maker on court moving the ball swiftly and safely to goal.
Firebirds tried to dampen the Fever’s party late on this contest, as they made a final quarter come-back with Australian Diamond shooter Donnell Wallam scoring three super-shots in a row to close the gap from an eight to three goal deficit, however it proved to be too little too late.
Firebirds finished this match still searching for their first victory of the season but showing many more signs of hope.
Lightning 63 – 64 NSW Swifts
On a weekend that marked 5 years since Helen Housby scored a last second winner to beat Australia and secure England their first ever Commonwealth Games netball gold medal, Housby was at it again.
The England Rose and NSW Swifts shooter found the ball in her hands again in the dying seconds of this closely contested game, and as always, she produced under pressure converting a Super Shot to allow her NSW Swifts team to win the match 63-64.
Housby shone throughout the match, and when she wasn’t shooting herself, she was the queen of assists putting the ball into Jamaican Sunshine Girl Romelda Aiken-George.
The England Rose was eventually rewarded for her efforts with the Player of the Match Award, whilst her Swifts team moved into the top four.
More information…
The Suncorp Super Netball League season will be made of 14 rounds, with the Grand Final scheduled to take place on the 8th July 2023, just in time for the Vitality Netball World Cup 2023 which will begin on the 28th July in Cape Town, South Africa.
To find out more about the Suncorp Super Netball League, click here.
To view the full fixture list, click here.
To find out more about the start date of the other domestic leagues around the world, visit our Domestic League page here.
