Agility is the name of the game in professional sports right now and Suncorp Super Netball demonstrated theirs last week when Queensland’s border restrictions meant the opening round of the long-awaited season needed to be quickly amended.
”The league has understood from the beginning that this season would need to be flexible to ensure we’re able to carry out a full 60-match competition and we have created a system and fixture to deal with the uncertainty of this health emergency,” Suncorp Super Netball CEO Chris Symington said.
A remarkable pivot
As Erin Delahunty wrote for The Guardian, that a season is even taking place is something of a miracle.
“One of the first skills fledgling netball players have to master is the pivot: a seamless swivel on the ball or heel of the foot to change position. Perfecting this awkward-to-the-untrained-eye art, without breaking the stepping rule, is a netball fundamental. It is fitting then, that in a year unlike any other, the world’s best netball league has had to metaphorically pivot numerous times to even get a season off the ground.”
The impact of COVID-19 on the competition aside, there are plenty more challenges wrapped up in 2020. Rule changes, including the controversial two-point shot, extended benches and a condensed fixture that raises concerns about injury among them.
Despite the hurdles faced by the SSN, the opening round of the season delivered on what it promised for fans.
Related—Super Netball: Round One Preview
Queensland Firebirds v Sunshine Coast Lightning, Saturday August 1st @ Nissan Arena, Brisbane
Queensland Firebirds – 48
Sunshine Coast Lightning – 66
Score breakdown
Q1: Firebirds 18 v Lightning 10
Q2: Firebirds 12 v Lightning 18
Q3: Firebirds 12 v Lightning 14
Q4: Firebirds 6 v Lightning 24
Player of The Match
Steph Wood (Sunshine Coast Lightning)
Firebirds shooting statistics: 48/61 (68.90%)
Romelda Aiken – G1 – 26/33 (79%) G2 – 0/0 (0%)
Tippah Dwan – G1 – 8/12 (67%) G2 – 3/5 (60%)
Ine-Mari Venter – G1 – 2/3 (67%) G2 – 2/4 (50%)
Mia Stower – G1 – 0/1 (0%) G2 – 1/3 (33%)
Lightning shooting statistics: 62/72 (86%)
Cara Koenen – G1 – 34/40 (85%) G2 – 1/2 (50%)
Steph Wood – G1 – 14/19 (74%) G2 – 10/11 (91%)
Peace Proscovia – G1 – 6/8 (79.7%) G2 – 0/0 (0%)
Firebirds starting seven
GS – Romelda Aiken, GA – Tippah Dwan, WA – Lara Dunkley, C – Mahalia Cassidy, WD – Gabi Simpson, GD – Kim Jenner, GK – Tara Hinchliffe
Lightning starting seven
GS – Cara Koenen, GA – Steph Wood, WA – Laura Scherian, C – Laura Langman, WD – Maddy McAuliffe, GD – Karla Pretorius, GK – Phumza Mahweni
Adelaide Thunderbirds v West Coast Fever, Saturday August 1st @ Nissan Arena, Brisbane
Adelaide Thunderbirds – 62
West Coast Fever – 74
Score breakdown
Q1: Thunderbirds 13 v Fever 18
Q2: Thunderbirds 14 v Fever 20
Q3: Thunderbirds 18 v Fever 15
Q4: Thunderbirds 17 v Fever 21
Player of The Match
Alice Teague-Neeld (West Coast Fever)
Thunderbirds shooting statistics: 62/80 (77.5%)
Lenize Potgieter – G1 – 34/35 (97%) G2 – 1/2 (50%)
Samantha Gooden – G1 – 1/4 (25%) G2 – 9/10 (90%)
Charlee Hodges – G1 – 1/2 (50%) G2 – 0/1 (0%)
Georgie Horjus – G1 – 6/9 (67%) G2 – 0/2 (0%)
Fever shooting statistics: 74/91 (81%)
Jhaniele Fowler – G1 – 50/53 (94%) G2 – 3/4 (75%)
Alice Teague-Neeld – G1 – 6/11 (55%) G2 – 4/4 (100%)
Kaylia Stanton – G1 – 2/6 (33%) G2 – 0/1 (0%)
Emma Cosh – G1 – 0/0 (0%) G2 – 1/2 (50%)
Thunderbirds starting seven
GS – Lenize Potgieter, GA – Samantha Gooden, WA – Chelsea Pitman, C – Hannah Petty, WD – Masie Nankivell, GD – Shadine Van Der Merwe, GK – Shamera Sterling
Fever starting seven
GS – Jhaniele Fowler, GA – Alice Teague-Neeld, WA – Ingrid Colyer, C Verity Charles, WD – Jess Anstiss, GD – Stacey Francis, GK – Courtney Bruce
Giants Netball v NSW Swifts, Sunday August 2nd @ Nissan Arena, Brisbane
Giants Netball – 61
NSW Swifts – 63
Score breakdown
Q1: Giants 17 v Swifts 17
Q2: Giants 16 v Swifts 11
Q3: Giants 13 v Swifts 21
Q4: Giants 15 v Swifts 14
Player of The Match
Lauren Moore (NSW Swifts)
Giants shooting statistics: 48/55 (87%)
Sophie Dwyer – G1 – 0/0 (0%) G2 – 2/2 (100%)
Jo Harten – G1 – 11/11 (100%) G2 – 9/13 (69%)
Caitlin Bassett – G1 – 22/24 (92%) G2 – 0/0 (0%)
Kiera Austin – G1 – 2/2 (100%) G2 – 2/3 (66%)
Swifts shooting statistics: 55/67 (82%)
Sophie Garbin – G1 – 11/13 (85%) G2 – 0/1 (0%)
Helen Housby – G1 – 8/9 (89%) G2 – 2/3 (66%)
Sam Wallace – G1 – 27/27 (100%) G2 – 6/13 (46%)
Giants starting seven
GS – Caitlin Bassett GA – Jo Harten WA – Kiera Austin C – Jamie-Lee Price WD – Amy Parmenter GD – Kristiana Manu’a GK – Sam Poolman
Swifts starting seven
GS – Sam Wallace GA – Helen Housby WA – Maddy Proud C – Paige Hadley WD – Sophie Craig GD – Lauren Moore GK – Sarah Klau
Check out Megan Maurice’s live blog for The Guardian
Melbourne Vixens v Collingwood Magpies, Sunday August 2nd @ Nissan Arena, Brisbane
Melbourne Vixens – 63
Collingwood Magpies – 52
Score breakdown
Q1: Vixens 15 v Magpies 13
Q2: Vixens 14 v Magpies 16
Q3: Vixens 16 v Magpies 14
Q4: Vixens 18 v Magpies 9
Player of The Match
Kate Moloney (Melbourne Vixens)
Vixens shooting statistics: 53/69 (77%)
Mwai Kumwenda – G1 – 16/19 (84%) G2 – 5/10 (50%)
Caitlin Thwaites – G1 – 11/11 (100%) G2 – 2/3 (66%)
Tegan Philip – G1 – 16/19 (84%) G2 – 3/7 (43%)
Magpies shooting statistics: 46/58 (79%)
Emma Ryde – G1 – 34/38 (89%) G2 – 0/0 (0%)
Gabby Sinclair – G1 – 10/17 (59%) G2 – 4/6 (67%)
Nyah Allen – G1 – 0/0 (0%) G2 – 2/3 (67%)
Vixens starting seven
GS – Mwai Kumwenda GA – Caitlin Thwaites WA – Liz Watson C – Kate Moloney WD – Kate Eddy GD – Jo Weston GK – Kadie-Ann Dehaney
Magpies starting seven
GS – Emma Ryde GA – Gabby Sinclair WA – Kelsey Browne C – Madi Browne WD – Mel Bragg GD – Jodi-Ann Ward GK – Geva Mentor
And finally, here’s a little trip down memory lane. This footage is from the 1963 Netball World Cup.