The Sunshine Coast Lightning have booked their place in the 2019 Suncorp Super Netball Grand Final after a huge third quarter proved the difference in their 58-48 Major Semi Final win over the NSW Swifts at Sippy Downs today.
The Swifts will now host next Sunday’s Preliminary Final and face the winner of tomorrow’s clash between the Melbourne Vixens and Collingwood Magpies for a place in the Grand Final in Brisbane.
It was a game which the Swifts started well but a poor third quarter allowed the Premiers a lead that ultimately proved too big to reel in.
It’s not the end for Briony Akle’s troops but it does mean this year’s Grand Final will take place in Brisbane and the dream of a first decider in Sydney since 2008 is over for another year. Next week’s Prelim is also a winner takes all affair.
A Laura Langman intercept gave the Lightning an early advantage off the Swifts’ opening centre pass in what was a very physical start. A fumble in the midcourt, which was pounced on by Katrina Rore, got the Swifts back on level terms before the Lighting called the first timeout of the game.
An offside call off a centre pass and poor communication in the attacking end by the hosts allowed the Swifts extend their lead before good defence forced NSW to rush passes into Sam Wallace – two of which were turned over. Those turnovers got the Lighting back on level terms but Helen Houbsy had the last say of the first quarter, nailing a pressure shot to send the Swifts to the break in front – 14-13.
A defensive rebound from Sarah Klau and an error from Langman off a centre pass saw the Swifts stretch the lead to five early in the second quarter but a Steph Wood intercept and missed long-bomb by Wallace soon had the Premiers back within one and the visitors calling their first timeout of the game.
It didn’t have the desired effect as a Madeline McAuliffe intercept and a Phumza Maweni tip on a Housby attempt gave the Premiers the impetus they needed to score four in a row and take the quarter 14-11, and a two-goal lead to the halftime break.
The Lightning brought that momentum into the third quarter and when Karla Pretorius won a scrap for a ball off a Swifts feed, and when Maweni produced another defensive tip, it started an avalanche of pressure to which the Swifts had little answer. With five minutes to go in the quarter the Lighting led it 14-4 and the game by 13.
Swifts head coach Briony Akle changed things up, bringing on Tayla Fraser at centre, Sophie Halpin at wing defence and Sophie Garbin at goal shooter. It steadied the ship as the teams started to go goal-for-goal, and the Swifts started to win some turnover ball of their own.
However at the final break the Lighting had a 10-goal lead and simply needed to keep their cool in the last quarter to book an automatic place in the 2019 Grand Final.
An early turnover provided some hope for the Swifts but the swarming defence of the Lightning was telling. Klau and Rore did manage to secure extra posession for NSW in the last term but converting was difficult. They kept plugging but couldn’t make inroads and had to force game. They drew the last quarter 13-all which did give something to build on ahead of next week.
Quarter by Quarter scores
SWIFTS | Q1: 14, Q2: 25 (11), Q3: 35 (10), Q4: 48 (13)
LIGHTNING | Q1: 13, Q2: 27 (14), Q3: 45 (18), Q4: 58 (13)
Starting Teams
SWIFTS | GS Sam Wallace, GA Helen Housby, WA Natalie Haythornthwaite, C Paige Hadley, WD Katrina Rore, GD Maddy Turner, GK Sarah Klau
LIGHTNING | GS Cara Koenen, GA Steph Wood, WA Laura Scherian, C Laura Langman, WD Madeline McAuliffe, GD Karla Pretorius, GK Phumza Maweni
Shooting Stats
SWIFTS: 48/55 @ 87%
S Wallace: 16/19 @ 84%
H Housby: 16/18 @ 89%
S Garbin: 16/18 @ 89%
LIGHTNING: 58/68 @ 85%
C Koenen: 30/32 @ 94%
S Wood: 22/29 @ 76%
P Proscovia: 6/7 @ 86%
Full match stats
