Nat Haythornthwaite of the Swifts in Super Netball action. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
Vitality Roses Helen Housby and Natalie Haythornthwaite secured another win with NSW Swifts as Round 6 of Super Netball took place.
NSW Swifts 60-58 Collingwood Magpies
Vitality Roses involved: Helen Housby, Natalie Haythornthwaite (both NSW Swifts) and Geva Mentor (Collingwood Magpies)
NSW Swifts claimed a thrilling 60-58 win over Collingwood Magpies to open Round 6, making it five wins from their opening six outings of the condensed 2020 season.
Magpies were in search of their second victory of the year and pushed the Premiers to the limit in a game that ebbed and flowed from start to finish.
Swifts created plenty of turnovers in the opening exchanges, including a brilliant midcourt intercept from Natalie Haythornthwaite, however, they didn’t convert on the scoreboard.
The defensive unit of Geva Mentor, Jodi-Ann Ward and Melissa Bragg was outstanding in the first half, their dominance reflected in the stats (12-3 gains, 8-1 intercepts), as Collingwood asserted their advantage and built a deserved 28-20 lead midway through the second quarter.
But Swifts responded and two Super Shots from Helen Housby helped them level the game at 29-29 on the stroke of halftime.
They looked to continue their momentum and pushed out in front to establish a five-goal lead in the third but Collingwood tied the game again at 44-44 heading into the final quarter.
Swifts leaned on their experienced performers after taking a narrow 55-54 lead into the final Rebel Power Five period with Housby scoring 10 out of 10, including one Super Shot, for the quarter, to grab the victory.
Score breakdown
Q1: Swifts 14-16 Magpies
Q2: Swifts 15-13 Magpies
Q3: Swifts 15-15 Magpies
Q4: Swifts 16-14 Magpies
Vitality Roses shooting stats
Helen Housby – G1 – 12/12 (100%); G2 – 4/9 (44%)
G1 = shots during normal play | G2 = Super Shots taken
West Coast Fever 57-68 Queensland Firebirds
Vitality Rose involved: Stacey Francis (West Coast Fever)
Queensland Firebirds ended their 370-day winless run by breaking through for their first victory of the season after defeating West Coast Fever 57-68.
Firebirds once again produced their best form against the Perth-based side to secure their first win since defeating Fever 68-62 in Round 13 last season.
Vitality Rose Stacey Francis started at WD for Fever, who flew out of the traps to lead 10-4 and were on top at the end of the opening quarter (16-14).
But Firebirds then dominated possession in the second term to take a 33-25 edge into halftime.
Fever threatened to make a run and turn the game on its head in the third but Firebirds absorbed the pressure to maintain their advantage going into the fourth quarter.
Kaylia Stanton added three Super Shots for Fever in the final 15 minutes but it wasn’t enough to prevent West Coast’s fourth loss in five games.
Score breakdown
Q1: Fever 16-14 Firebirds
Q2: Fever 9-19 Firebirds
Q3: Fever 18-17 Firebirds
Q4: Fever 14-18 Firebirds
Melbourne Vixens 63-58 GIANTS Netball
Vitality Rose involved: Jo Harten (GIANTS Netball)
Melbourne Vixens continued their impressive start to the Super Netball season, edging out GIANTS to win 63-58 on the Sunshine Coast.
The ladder leaders flexed their muscles in the second half of Sunday’s clash at USC Stadium to claim their fifth victory of the campaign.
Vitality Rose Jo Harten started at GS as GIANTS showed plenty of spirit in the first half with a flawless shooting performance from GA Kiera Austin inspiring them to a 31-36 lead.
But a big third quarter from Mwai Kumwenda swung the match back in Melbourne’s favour as Vixens won a high-scoring quarter 24-17 to have a 50-48 advantage going into the final 15.
And Vixens closed out the win with the class of midcourters Kate Moloney and Liz Watson shining through in the finish.
Score breakdown
Q1: Vixens 15-14 GIANTS
Q2: Vixens 11-17 GIANTS
Q3: Vixens 24-17 GIANTS
Q4: Vixens 13-10 GIANTS
Vitality Roses shooting stats
Jo Harten – G1 – 14/16 (87%); G2 – 3/6 (50%)
Sunshine Coast Lightning 53-45 Adelaide Thunderbirds
Vitality Roses involved: Chelsea Pitman, Layla Guscoth and Kate Shimmin (all Adelaide Thunderbirds)
Sunshine Coast Lightning ran out 53-45 winners over Adelaide Thunderbirds as Round 6 of Super Netball drew to a close.
Thunderbirds came into Sunday’s clash at USC Stadium with the opportunity to move two games clear of those teams outside the top four if they could claim a third win in a row.
But Lightning showed why they continue to be one of the elite of the competition, using their versatility and experience to hold off Thunderbirds with a dominant 14-7 fourth-quarter effort.
Vitality Roses Chelsea Pitman (WA) and Layla Guscoth (GD) started for Thunderbirds while Kate Shimmin entered the action later on at GD.
Lightning led by seven goals at quarter time and despite Thunderbirds battling hard to chip away at the opposition’s advantage after falling behind early, winning the second and third quarters, they faded away late in the contest.
Score breakdown
Q1: Lightning 16-9 Thunderbirds
Q2: Lightning 11-13 Thunderbirds
Q3: Lightning 12-16 Thunderbirds
Q4: Lightning 14-7 Thunderbirds
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