Sunshine Coast Lightning defeat Giants 59-50
Lovely gesture from the Sunshine Coast Lightning players, who say congratulations to Susan Pettitt in the circle in the middle of the court. “One more to go” is their cry as they huddle. They’ve now got the chance to go back to back.
Here’s Cox with Pettitt. 17 years at the top for her, she says she’s not feeling too good, a very disappointing way to finish, but is proud of what she’s done. Most capped player in history at this level. Cox says the crowd love her, and they respond with a roar. She’s very emotional, thanks her parents and husband in particular. Says she won’t stay away from netball for too long.
Not the fairytale finish for her, but the Lightning thoroughly deserved that win. Both sides say goodbye to Pettitt and Guthrie.
Lightning now have the chance to defend their title against the Fever. Can’t wait for that one.
Player of the match goes to Karla Pretorious - very well-deserved. Seven intercepts, and five deflections in a huge defensive effort from her. Says the team has room for improvement, but huge to make the grand final after a sluggish start to the season.
Thanks for joining me - and I hope to see you back here next week.
Updated
Q4 00:01 Giants 50-59 Lightning
Pettitt scores with a minute to go in tears. It’s an emotional moment for everyone and full credit to Harten for that move. That’s the kind of teammate you want to play with. Wood scores with just six seconds to go, they’ll win by a margin of nine.
Q4 01:00 Giants 48-57 Lightning
Commentators debate whether Pettitt should be brought back onto the court. Don’t think it’ll happen. It’s eight goals now, and Pettitt looks like she wants back on, but I don’t think Fitzgerald will make that call. Harten calls a timeout - wow. She wants Pettitt back on the court. Pettitt is already crying.
Q4 02:00 Giants 48-55 Lightning
Wood scores - she’s really come into the game late. She and Bassett have just been too strong. There’s no time left now for the Giants.
Updated
Q4 02:50 Giants 48-53 Lightning
Price just can’t keep up. Think that might be where the game is lost. Pretorious pulls off another huge intercept, that’s her seventh! She’s starred. Guthrie gets the tip but it’ll be a Lightning ball. Think this is all over - although the offensive rebound goes to the Giants. They must go quick. In an effort to do so, the ball is thrown out of play.
Q4 04:30 Giants 48-52 Lightning
Think maybe the Lightning have weathered the storm. Austin goes long, misses, but it’s back for the Giants through Green. Harten scores. Think they need to change up the defence, though, getting called far too much for contact and obstruction. The Giants chant goes up again as the players throw everything at it. Still, Wood finds the feed and scores. Pettitt looks distraught on the bench - this might be her last hurrah. Austin pulls it back to four.
Updated
Q4 06:30 Giants 46-51 Lightning
It’s an eight goal to four quarter now. Bulley is called for contact. Pettitt and Poolman haven’t sat down. Screaming at their teammates. Steph Wood scores against the momentum. But Harten gets one back - she’s been huge - showing her leadership. Wood’s shot is round and round the rim before it’s in. Oh no, Guthrie loses the ball midcourt! That’s the last thing the Giants needed. Manu’a called for contact as Bassett scores and it’s a Lightning ball again.
Q4 08:45 Giants 45-47 Lightning
Oh wow it’s just two now and Harten is demanding her teammates get up. The Lightning call a time out! A thunderous applause rings out as the crowd knows the momentum has swung. Mentor says “let’s take the crowd out of it”.
4-goal game with plenty of time remaining!#GIAvLIG pic.twitter.com/MH4L17OyTi
— 9Netball (@9Netball) August 19, 2018
Updated
Q4 09:00 Giants 44-47 Lightning
Ooh, think that was a step against the Lightning, and now the Giants need to score off the turnover. Austin lands one from long range. She’s been impressive. Pettitt and Poolman can’t watch from the bench. Austin misses this one but Harten lands it. It’s just four goals now. Big call for the Giants as Austin pulls off a tip and it’s another Giant ball! The Giants chant goes up - it’s deafening. Back to three.
Q4 11:20 Giants 40-47 Lightning
Fitzgerald’s call for better defence seems to have paid off as the Lightning seem to have much less space so far. That said, Manu’a can’t get anywhere near Bassett. Harten pulls one back for a difference of six. Lightning doing their best to hold possession and wind down the clock. Wood takes it from mid-range, she misses, and Bassett looks out of court, but Manu’a gives away contact.
Updated
Q4 13:00 Giants 39-45 Lightning
Pettitt remains on the bench with no changes made. This might be her last and it would be sad to see her end it there. It’s one each now, and Wood takes a long-range shot before the Giants start it in the centre again. Harten hassling with everything she has and takes a very impressive offensive rebound. Now she scores.
Three-quarter-time Giants 37-43 Lightning
Contact from Manu’a and Wood has a long-range effort. She goes to Bassett instead who can’t miss. Think this might be too far gone for the Giants who look sloppy, if desperate. Harten in particular is trying to pull her team over the line. She looks to keep the ball in with a deflection off the Lightning, but it’s a controversial call the way of the Sunshine Coast.
Huge quarter by the Lightning - six goals the difference.
Updated
Q3 01:15 Giants 37-42 Lightning
Oh no, Price pulls off a huge tip, keeps it in but it goes to the Lightning. Still, Bulley wins another back off Bassett. They need to capitalise now. Oh no... Austin throws it out and Guthrie can’t save it, but Bulley pulls off another intercept! Wow! Austin scores. Can they go two in a row? Austin has a mid-range shot, and hits it.
Q3 03:00 Giants 35-42 Lightning
Things just falling apart now for the Giants, we think there’s something wrong with Green who throws another pass away. She’s looking at the bench. Think she wants off. Ooh, Harten hits the floor hard taking the ball off Pretorious, but this is a huge margin now. Harten looks like she wants in further up the court.
Q3 04:40 Giants 33-39 Lightning
Giants were desperate in that last huddle - they know things have to change right now. Browne has come up to nine assists - being given too much space by Green. Guess who? Bassett for a gap of six! Austin has been a shining light and responds. She’s missed just one.
Manu’a pulls of the intercept! Can this be the momentum change they need? Giants can’t find a way through - Lightning defence is just to good.
Updated
Q3 06:40 Giants 32-37 Lightning
Reckon we need to see another defensive change for the Giants soon. Poolman must surely come on. Harten pulls one back, but Wood is causing all sorts of headaches in combination with Bassett. She’s quick to the post this quarter. Both defenders are out, and Bassett lands yet another. Austin can’t score with a hand from Pretorious, but it’s a Giants ball again. Things unravelling now as Mentor takes the rebound. Five the difference and time out called by Fitzgerald.
Q3 09:00 Giants 30-34 Lightning
Wood just finds the net and it’s back out to two for the Lightning. Austin pulls two defenders, and Harten gets another. Something of a momentum shift here for the Giants. Bassett is holding firm, and keeping Manu’a out of position. She’s at 25/26 (96%) and wood takes the Lightning out to a four point lead.
Q3 11:20 Giants 29-30 Lightning
Lightning have the ball with a three-goal advantage already, but Bassett is pulled up for an elbow and the Giants come back. Guthrie has been finding it hard to pinpoint Harten in particular, but this time it comes off for the Giants. Austin then scores again.
Q3 12:30 Giants 27-30 Lightning
Austin takes another to keep her perfect record intact, but it’s straight back down the court for another Bassett goal. Julie Fitzgerald says it was “really tough” to bench Pettitt but she felt it was necessary. She’s frustrated that they’re turning over too much ball midcourt.
Updated
Q3 14:00 Giants 26-28 Lightning
Manu’a shows why she was subbed on and pulls off a big intercept to start the quarter. Oh no! Browne then takes her own intercept in the midcourt. That’s costly as what could have seen them draw level sees them two behind.
Back shortly
But here’s some reaction in the meantime!
Incredibly gutsy move by Fitzgerald to bring Kiera Austin on in a Preliminary Final. Props to her. #GIAvLIG
— Jordan Grant (@jordiashley) August 19, 2018
Let us hope that last goal AFTER the buzzer isn't the difference 😡 #GIAvLIG
— Noely ⚡ (@YaThinkN) August 19, 2018
@serenabob we can't convince you to stay with Giants?
— Leesa Sawyer (@LeesaSawyer_13) August 19, 2018
#herecomethegiants #GIAvLIG
Half-time Giants 26-27 Lightning
Can the Giants score on the buzzer? Yes! Austin lands the long-range effort. Fair effort by her under some serious pressure. I think the one goal deficit is a good result for the Giants after the Lightning looked to be pulling away in the second half of that quarter. Wouldn’t mind seeing Poolman back on. Let’s see!
Updated
Q2 00:18 Giants 25-27 Lightning
Austin is playing GA and Harten GS. Lightning go up by two, their biggest lead of the game, with no answer for Bassett. Austin gets her second from two shots, great to see the Giants’ coaching staff back her in. Oh wow, Guthrie wins a massive ball for the chance to level scores before the end of the half. Oh no! Green loses it and Bassett scores!
Q2 02:20 Giants 24-25 Lightning
Yep, Kiera Austin comes on for Pettitt. Think they needed to make that call, the Giants. She’s hardly had any time this season - and mostly as WA. Bec Bulley pulls off a massive intercept! That’s two today. Huge. She takes the first shot, it didn’t look very good and circled the ring a few times, but it’s in! Bassett now scores to take the advantage.
Updated
Q2 03:30 Giants 23-24 Lightning
Can the Lightning level? They have the centre pass, and the patient build-up finds Bassett. Wood has 10 goal assists for the Lightning, while Green has 11 for the Giants. Lightning take the ball back after another failed attempt to find Pettitt. Surely she comes off sooner rather than later. Bassett scores and Giants call a time out. I wonder if we see Pettitt changed now.
Q2 05:00 Giants 23-22 Lightning
Oh no, Harten throws the ball out looking for Pettitt, who hasn’t had her best game (she’s at 62%). Will we see a change soon? Bulley’s out of play and Manu’a does a fair job of guarding space. Price with a big challenge on Browne, but the contact goes Lightning’s way.
Updated
Q2 06:20 Giants 23-21 Lightning
54% possession to the Giants but it’s still all tied up. Giants go one ahead but Bassett still dominating with Manu’a on. Oh wow, the Giants intercept, but then turn it over after a bad pass from Kim Green. Everyone slipping up under pressure, even the most unlikely. Offside goes against the Lightning and Harten can’t score! Guthrie delivers to Pettitt and she misses! But Harten gets the offensive rebound again.
Q2 08:15 Giants 21-21 Lightning
Steph Wood gets the Lightning straight on the board after the time out. Oh! Pretorious pulls off an unbelievable intercept after Guthrie looked to feed Pettitt. It ends in a Bassett goal. This can really turn things around. Wood has a chance from long range but goes backwards under pressure, but Bassett scores to tie it up.
Q2 09:54 Giants 21-18 Lightning
Bassett scores with Manu’a no hope of intercepting with the height differential. Not sure Poolman being benched was the right call, but who knows what happened. Oh wow! Guthrie just pulled off an extraordinary tip and then rescues the ball from well outside the court. Unreal. Pettitt scores. Can they push three goals ahead? Yes, through Pettitt! Lightning call the first time out of the game in response.
Updated
Q2 11:30 Giants 19-17 Lightning
Offload to Bassett ends in a goal, and she calls for a towel complaining it’s too slippery. We’re back on, and Harten makes no mistake. Lots of debate about the merits of Poolman being benched, but it’s Bulley who steals the limelight with a big intercept. Lightning defence giving Giants nothing, who have to keep going back into the midcourt. They eventually find Harten but it’s hard work. Giants then take the centre pass but Pettitt holds too long!
Q2 13:20 Giants 17-16 Lightning
Giants begin with the ball and contact on Pettitt gives her the first mid-range shot. She can’t hit it, and Mentor takes the rebound, but Harten then manages one back (but hits the ground hard in the process). She looks OK and shoots truly.
Manu’a has come on for Poolman in a bit of a surprise. That gives a lot of height to Bassett.
Quarter-time Giants 15-15 Lightning
Giants’ shooters both a little off now (Pettitt at just 67% and Harten at 89%), but Harten can put Giants in the lead with just 15 seconds to go. She does. Lightning pull off an impressively quick play to end the quarter with one to Bassett. Bassett finishes with 11/12 (92%) and Wood with 4/5 (80%).
Just the game we were expecting.
Updated
Q1 00:45 Giants 14-14 Lightning
Very little to separate these teams as we head towards the end of the quarter. Giants go quickly and Pettitt misses the long range shot, but Harten rebounds for an important goal. Guthrie almost makes the intercept, and the pressure means Bulley pulls off her own intercept. Let’s see if they can capitalise. Harten can’t find the long-range shot, and Pretorious takes the ball back for Sunshine Coast. Bassett levels.
Q1 03:00 Giants 12-12 Lightning
Steph Wood slots the mid-range shot, and it’s back to level pegging again. McAuliffe with the midcourt intercept, but Wood can’t keep the ball in play. Giants are succeeding in pushing the Sunshine Coast across court, and Harten capitalises. Wood, however, is in space and levels.
Q1 05:00 Giants 10-10 Lightning
Mentor reads the play beautifully and takes the high ball. That’s a big intercept and Wood has a chance to pull the difference back to one. She misses, but Bassett takes the rebound through pure strength of will. Uh oh, McAuliffe steps and Giants look to punish, but Guthrie is then called up for a hold. This could level it up - and Bassett does with another momentum shift.
Q1 06:55 Giants 10-7 Lightning
Pretorious has to come off with blood on the court. Mikaere looks surprised to come on so early - and hasn’t seen much action this year. Pettitt now has to leave the court as well with blood on her thigh. She tries to wipe it off herself and avoid coming off, but is marched off by the umpires. Wants desperately back on the court. Price is now on as the game is in some disarray. Lightning take advantage through Bassett, and Pretorious and Pettitt come back to restore some order.
Caution to Scherian for “three persistent contacts of the same nature”.
Updated
Q1 08:29 Giants 8-6 Lightning
Jo Harten’s 5/5, and even throws in a fake. Nice confidence from her. Lightning look slightly rattled, and despite Wood desperately throwing the ball back into play, it ends in the hands of the Giants. Harten takes the contact and the momentum has swung well toward the Giants. Bassett with a steadier.
Q1 10:24 Giants 5-5 Lightning
All tied up, but Lightning are finding things easier, straight to the post. Great intercept from Pretorious gives the Lightning the advantage. Bassett looks to throw the ball out but it’s off the hands of the Giants, and Poolman pulls off a big rebound off Bassett. That’s big. Pettitt’s shot is short but Harten gets the offensive rebound to level it up again.
Updated
Q1 12:00 Giants 4-3 Lightning
Harten with a huge, clever tap over the top of the defensive unit which lands in the hands of Pettitt. Risky play which comes off despite Mentor looking set to intercept. Wow. Bassett, however, looking as dangerous as always with goals coming easy for her. Harten confidently shoots a mid-range goal.
Q1 13:40 Giants 2-1 Lightning
First goal goes to Pettitt – a popular one for the crowd. No space though for the giants as the Lightning look to clog up the arc. Bassett hits back to level things up through the long pass. Mentor with the first deflection, but great work from Price to feed it back to Harten.
Updated
Here’s how the Lightning progressed through last week
Love Liz Ellis’ insights. Not too far away from the start of the big game now. Giants are making their way onto the court.
Liz breaks down what the Lightning did well last week. #GIAvLIG pic.twitter.com/P35Il8NPRW
— 9Netball (@9Netball) August 19, 2018
Remember this final minute?
The last time these two sides clashed it was ABSOLUTE MADNESS for the final minute.
— 9Netball (@9Netball) August 16, 2018
Will we see this kind of action again this weekend? #GIAvLIG - SUNDAY 1PM ON NINE #9Netball #SSNFinals pic.twitter.com/FTW277Jhnj
Great to see fans out in force
Looks like a packed stadium for this repeat of last year’s grand final (that also sees this year’s minor premiers against last year’s winners).
Yessssssss. #GIAvLIG #SuncorpSuperNetball #SSNFinals pic.twitter.com/BjjDPzPQNf
— Thomas Nguyen (@ThomasHNguyen) August 19, 2018
Get us on the big screen @SuperNetball. #SSNFinals #GIAvLIG #SunCoastProud @sc_lightning pic.twitter.com/cxnk5DpCSV
— Kyle Dundas (@kyle_dundas) August 19, 2018
Your starting sevens
Your starting seven. Let's go Lightning! #GIAvLIG #StrikeTwice #preliminaryfinal ⚡️👊🏐 pic.twitter.com/6JfeBSWVnT
— Sunshine Coast Lightning (@sc_lightning) August 19, 2018
Is this the end of the road for Susan Pettitt?
The Giants will be hoping there’s still one more for the superstar, who is clearly respected by her teammates, fans and opponents alike. Either way, this’ll be her last Sydney game and it looks like there’s a big crowd out to say farewell.
@SusanPettitt - legend! #GIAvLIG - TOMORROW 1PM LIVE ON NINE pic.twitter.com/GmM7mtzsbO
— 9Netball (@9Netball) August 18, 2018
Welcome
Hello everyone and welcome to this huge preliminary final between the Giants and Sunshine Coast Lightning. The winner of course will go through to the grand final to face off against West Coast Fever.
With thanks to the Super Netball website, here’s some things to look out for today.
Last time they met:
It was one of the thrillers of the season: it was goal-for-goal in the final quarter, and a major error of judgment and goal on the final whistle ended the match in a 53-53 draw.
Where it’ll be won:
These sides are about as evenly matched as two teams could possibly be. They’ve played twice this season for a three-goal Giants victory followed by that thrilling draw.
The Lightning, however, will look to capitalise on their impressive defensive unit containing GK Geva Mentor and GD Karla Pretorius. In their three-goal loss, Mentor had just two defensive gains, while Pretorius had four in the three-goal loss. In Round 8, however, the pair had a combined 11 gains against the Giants, including seven across the second and third quarters as they hauled their team back from eight goals down and into the lead.
The Giants, however, have the daunting pair of Jo Harten and Susan Pettitt and may well look to keep the ball out of the air and limit both Mentor and Pretorious’ intercepting capacity.
Key stats:
GIANTS Netball – After 15 Games Played
Average squad age: 27.3
Top goal scorer: Jo Harten
Quarter Breakdown:
Q1: +26 (9 wins, 0 draws, 6 losses)
Q2: +46 (11 wins, 0 draws, 4 losses)
Q3: +40 (12 wins 0 draws, 3 losses)
Q4: +12 (6 wins, 1 draw, 8 losses)
Have scored 898 goals from 1040 attempts (86%)
57.6 / 64.6 (Average goals and attempts)
Goal Source: centre pass – 619; goals from gains – 128; goals from turnovers – 119
LIGHTNING – After 15 Games Played
Average age: 27.8
Top goal scorer: Caitlin Bassett
Quarter Breakdown
Q1: +31 (8 wins, 1 draw, 6 losses)
Q2: +44 (10 wins, 1 draw, 4 losses)
Q3: +12 (10 wins, 1 draw, 4 losses)
Q4: +7 (8 wins, 1 draw, 6 losses)
Have scored 866 goals from 972 attempts (89%)
57.73 / 64.8 (Average goals and attempts)
Goal Source: centre pass – 619; goals from gains – 115; goals from turnovers – 164
Kate will be here shortly.
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