Australia dominate for fifth World Cup
Australia has won its fifth World Cup – and first on home soil – triumphing in an 85-run victory over India.
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The Sunshine Coast Lightning have gone back-to-back in the Suncorp Super Netball grand final, defeating the West Coast Fever by three goals.
In front of 13,722 fans at the Perth Arena, West Coast Fever couldn’t quite complete their fairy tale rise up the ladder with a premiership.
Lightning shooter Caitlin Bassett was the Player of the Match.
It was a tight, physical start to the game, neither team looked too nervous as few errors were made in the first term.
Steph Wood left the court with what appeared to be a sore back, after colliding with the goal-post.
She was strapped up, given some pain-killers and returned in the second quarter to resume her goal attack position.
The sides couldn’t be split at the first break, the score 14-all.
In the second, the Fever took control of the game, Courtney Bruce getting touches on everything in defence and Verity Charles feeding beautifully into shooter Jhaniele Fowler.
West Coast extended their lead to as much as seven goals in the second term, but the last three goals went the way of the Lightning and they pulled the deficit to just three goals at the long break.
The Sunshine Coast Lightning came out in the third all guns blazing; they stepped up their game, got Steph Wood involved in the play and had a six-goal turn-around.
Again, the Fever tired in the last two minutes of the quarter and the Lightning scored quickly to hold a three-goal advantage at the final change.
The fourth quarter had more lead changes and momentum swings, the Fever fought their way back in front with less than five minutes to go, but couldn’t hold on, as the Lightning kicked into another gear.
With one minute to go it was all decided, a late turnover created an opportunity for the Sunshine Coast and they put it through.
The Sunshine Coast Lighting are back-to-back champions of the two-year-old Suncorp Super Netball competition.
It is truly an incredible effort; a complete team, well coached by Noeline Taurua, came from fourth on the ladder to win the premiership.
Courtney Bruce’s battle with Lightning shooter Caitlin Bassett was mesmerising to watch. Bruce fought hard all day for intercepts and deflections, but Bassett was steady under the goal post for the Sunshine Coast.
Fever shooter Jhaniele Fowler had the better of Geva Mentor for most of the day, but Lightning captain Mentor took it upon herself in the second half to win the game for her team, deflecting and taking away space from the Fever attackers.
Sunshine Coast had a slow start to their second season, but came home flying. Seven wins to end the year, resulting in the premiership.
The West Coast Fever ladies can hold their heads high, a huge turnaround this season after a second-last finish in 2017.
In their first grand final appearance they couldn’t quite get the job done, but plenty more Super Netball finals ahead for this Fever side.
Final Score
Fever 59
Lightning 62
West Coast Fever vs Sunshine Coast Lightning: Super Netball Grand Final live scores, blog