Round three of Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) took place over the weekend, with the ANZ Premiership entering its fifth round, and there were plenty of Vitality Roses involved across both competitions Down Under.
Geva Mentor returned to the starting lineup for Collingwood Magpies, who overcame Adelaide Thunderbirds 60-56 in Saturday’s opening match.
The England legend was supported in the defensive end by former Severn Stars player Jodi-Ann Ward, who recorded four intercepts, as the Magpies secured their first win of the new campaign.
West Coast Fever recovered from a lethargic start to claim a 69-54 over Sunshine Coast Lightning as Stacey Francis-Bayman’s side earned a third consecutive victory.
Francis-Bayman started at goal-defence in a challenging opening quarter that Lightning won 21-12, but her defensive pressure was crucial as Fever dominated the match thereafter.
Sunday saw the New South Wales Swifts clinch a 55-43 win over the Melbourne Vixens to condemn the defending champions to a third straight defeat.
Making their debut at Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena, the Swifts were in control throughout with Nat Haythornthwaite helping establish a 10-goal lead in the opening quarter and Helen Housby playing her part off the bench.
GIANTS Netball lead the SSN table after Jo Harten inspired her side to a 67-60 victory against Queensland Firebirds.
The Commonwealth Games champion shot 41/44 at goal-shooter as the GIANTS stretched the score in quarters two and three and the Firebirds couldn’t recover the deficit despite ending strongly.
Absolute heat 🔥#SSNGIANTSFirebirds #EverythingIsPossible pic.twitter.com/RZ2cwEpZ9O
— Suncorp Super Netball (@SuperNetball) May 16, 2021
In the ANZ Premiership, Southern Steel returned to winning ways on Sunday with a 56-52 win at Central Pulse.
George Fisher’s scored 13 goals in both the first and last quarters as Pulse’s attempts at a comeback were successfully stifled.
Elsewhere, netball legend Ama Agbeze was an unused substitute in Northern Mystics narrow 64-63 loss at Mainland Tactix after the game went to extra-time.
Suncorp Super Netball Round 4 fixtures
Saturday 22 May at 06:00am (BST) – Collingwood Magpies vs Queensland Firebirds
Saturday 22 May at 10:00am (BST) – Adelaide Thunderbirds vs West Coast Fever
Sunday 23 May at 04:00am (BST) – Sunshine Coast Lightning vs New South Wales Swifts
Sunday 23 May at 06:00am (BST) – Melbourne Vixens vs GIANTS Netball
ANZ Premiership Round 6 fixtures
Monday 24 May at 07:15am (BST) – Southern Steel vs Mainland Tactix
Monday 24 May at 09:15am (BST) – Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic vs Northern Mystics
The ANZ Premiership is free to watch live and on demand here
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