Three teams have steadied at the top of the ladder, but it was the Firebirds’ first win in 370 days that was the true highlight. Super Netball round six had plenty to like.
Drama is such a big part of sport—a missed goal or a loss that ends a season—if we’re honest the drama is part of what attracts us to the field or court. But sometimes, that same drama can reveal the shortcomings of the game we love.
There’s no denying the 2020 season of Super Netball has had its fair share of dramatic moments. We had them before the season even began with last minute dashes across the border to keep the season alive. But in round five, we saw what has been described as the most controversial Super Netball game ever. Giants defender Kristiana Manu’a was sent off, leaving the Giants a player short and no doubt helping their opponents, Sunshine Coast Lightning to victory.
There was plenty of discussion about what had happened on court, but, as Erin Delahunty writes, what happens off court now is where the discussion should be headed.
Related—Super Netball Round Five wrap up
“Given a number of timing anomalies in past seasons and a hastily assembled response after complaints about several super shot signalling errors so far this season, it is surprising Super Netball, in its fourth year, does not have a formal dispute resolution process or tribunal.”
In other netball news, have you listened to The Netty Life yet? Hosted by Kate Cornish and Brittany Carter, it’s full of analysis and insight and lots of fun and it’s well worth a listen!
Did you catch Jess Currie live tweeting the Vixens v Giants game for us? If not, hop over to Twitter and have a read of Jess’ insights, perhaps while watching a replay? And if you missed it, Jess will be back on Tuesday, live tweeting all the action in the round 7 clash between Fever and the Magpies. Don’t miss it!
NSW Swifts v Collingwood Magpies, Saturday August 22 @ Nissan Arena, Brisbane
NSW Swifts – 60
Collingwood Magpies – 58
Score breakdown
Q1: Swifts 14 v Collingwood 16
Q2: Swifts 15 v Collingwood 13
Q3: Swifts 15 v Coollingwood 15
Q4: Swifts 16 v Collingwood 14
Player of The Match
Sarah Klau (NSW Swifts)
Swifts shooting statistics: 55/64 (86%)
Sam Wallace: G1 – 30/30 (100%) G2 – 1/1 (100%), total points 32
Helen Housby: G1 – 12/12 (100%) G2 – 4/9 (44%), total points 20
Sophie Garbin: G1- 8/12 (67%) G2 – 0/0 (0%), total points 8
Magpies shooting statistics: 53/63 (84%)
Shimona Nelson: G1 – 26/30 (87%) G2 – 0/0 (0%), total points 26
Gabby Sinclair: G1 – 9/10 (90%) G2 – 5/7 (71%), total points 19
Emma Ryde: G1 – 13/14 (93%) G2 – 0/0 (0%), total points 13
Swifts starting seven
GS – Sam Wallace GA – Helen Housby WA – Nat Haythornthwaite C – Paige Hadley WD – Sophie Craig GD – Lauren Moore GK – Sarah Klau
Collingwood starting seven
GS – Shimona Nelson GA – Gabby Sinclair WA – Kelsey Browne C – Madi Browne WD – Mel Bragg GD – Jodi-Ann Ward GK – Geva Mentor
West Coast Fever v Queensland Firebirds, Saturday August 22 @ Nissan Arena, Brisbane
West Coast Fever – 57
Queensland Firebirds – 68
Score breakdown
Q1: Fever 16 v Firebirds 14
Q2: Fever 9 v Firebirds 19
Q3: Fever 18 v Firebirds 17
Q4: Fever 16 v Firebirds 20
Player of The Match
Romelda Aiken (Queensland Firebirds)
Fever shooting statistics: 52/63 (83%)
Jhaniele Fowler: G1 – 46/48 (96%) G2 – 2/3 (67%), total points 50
Alice Teague-Neeld: G1 – 1/3 (33%) G2 – 0/2 (0%), total points 1
Kaylia Stanton: G1- 0/1 (0%) G2 – 3/6 (50%), total points 6
Firebirds shooting statistics: 63/82 (77%)
Romelda Aiken: G1 – 40/47 (85%) G2 -1/2 (50%), total points 42
Tippah Dwan: G1 – 17/19 (90%) G2 – 3/5 (60%), total points 23
Ine-Mari Venter: G1 – 1/3 (33%) G2 – 1/5 (20%), total points 3
Fever starting seven
GS – Jhaniele Fowler GA – Alice Teague-Neeld WA – Verity Charles C – Jess Anstiss WD – Stacey Francis GD – Sunday Aryang GK – Courtney Bruce
Firebirds starting seven
GS – Romelda Aiken GA – Tippah Dwan WA – Jemma Mi Mi C – Mahalia Cassidy WD – Gabi Simpson GD – Kim Jenner GK – Tara Hinchliffe
Melbourne Vixens v GIANTS Netball, Sunday August 23 @ USC Stadium, Sunshine Coast
Melbourne Vixens – 63
GIANTS Netball – 58
Score breakdown
Q1: Vixens 15 v GIANTS 14
Q2: Vixens 11 v GIANTS 17
Q3: Vixens 24 v GIANTS 17
Q4: Vixens 13 v GIANTS 10
Player of The Match
Kate Moloney (Melbourne Vixens)
Vixens shooting statistics: 57/68 (84%)
Caitlin Thwaites: G1 – 23/23 (100%) G2 – 1/5 (20%), total points 25
Tegan Philip: G1 – 6/7 (86%) G2 – 2/5 (40%), total points 10
Mwai Kumwenda: G1- 22/24 (89%) G2 – 3/4 (75%), total points 28
GIANTS shooting statistics: 47/56 (84%)
Jo Harten: G1 – 14/16 (87%) G2 -3/6 (50%), total points 20
Kiera Austin: G1 – 22/25 (88%) G2 – 8/9 (89%), total points 38
Vixens starting seven
GS – Caitlin Thwaites GA – Tegan Philip WA – Liz Watson C – Kate Moloney WD – Kate Eddy GD – Jo Weston GK – Emily Mannix
GIANTS starting seven
GS – Jo Harten GA – Kiera Austin WA – Maddie Hay C – Jamie-Lee Price WD – Amy Parmenter GD – Kristiana Manu’a GK – Sam Poolman
Sunshine Coast Lightning v Adelaide Thunderbirds, Sunday August 23 @ USC Stadium, Sunshine Coast
Sunshine Coast Lightning – 53
Adelaide Thunderbirds – 45
Score breakdown
Q1: Lightning 16 v Thunderbirds 9
Q2: Lightning 11 v Thunderbirds 13
Q3: Lightning 12 v Thunderbirds 16
Q4: Lightning 14 v Thunderbirds 7
Player of The Match
Cara Koenen (Sunshine Coast Lightning)
Lightning shooting statistics: 53/63 (84%)
Peace Proscovia: G1 – 7/7 (100%) G2 – 0/0 (0%), total points 7
Cara Koenen: G1 – 32/36 (89%) G2 – 0/0 (0%), total points 32
Steph Wood: G1 – 14/19 (74%) G2 – 0/1 (0%), total points 14
Thunderbirds shooting statistics: 42/57 (74%)
Sasha Glasgow: G1 – 2/4 (50%) G2 – 1/6 (17%), total points 4
Georgie Horjus: G1 – 9/12 (75%) G2 – 2/6 (33%), total points 13
Lenize Potgieter: G1 – 28/29 (97%) G2 – 0/0 (0%), total points 28
Lightning starting seven
GS – Peace Proscovia GA – Cara Koenen WA – Steph Wood C – Laura Langman WD – Maddy McAuliffe GD – Karla Pretorius GK – Phumza Maweni
Thunderbirds starting seven
GS – Sasha Glasgow GA – Georgie Horjus WA – Chelsea Pitman C – Maisie Nankivell WD – Shadine van der Merwe GD – Kate Shimmin GK – Shamera Sterling