Related Post
The Giants have ended a three-match losing sequence and knocked local rival NSW Swifts off the top of the Super Netball ladder with a convincing 57-41 home win over the Adelaide Thunderbirds.
Key points:
- The win put the Giants ahead of the Swifts on top of the ladder via a superior percentage
- Jo Harten scored 28 points and Sophie Dwyer 25 for the Giants
- The Thunderbirds’ score was the lowest by any team this season
Never leading by less than three points after the first five-and-a-half minutes, the Giants dominated a largely one-sided clash at Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena this afternoon.
It was the Giants’ biggest winning margin of the season and the Thunderbirds’ largest loss.
Adelaide’s final score was the lowest by any team this year.
The victory put the Giants on top of the ladder via a superior percentage ahead of the Swifts, but the Lightning and the West Coast Fever could go ahead of both Sydney-based clubs if they each win their match in hand next week.
Coming off consecutive losses to the other three teams in the top four, the Giants had far less trouble against Thunderbirds, who were disappointing after registering back-to-back wins.
The Thunderbirds were unable to reproduce the form they showed in last week’s upset win over the Swifts, shooting at 67 per cent and making 31 general play turnovers.
Their poor start was self-inflicted as they made 10 turnovers in the first quarter and shot at just 70 per cent to trail by seven at the first change.
That shooting figure dropped to 64 per cent by half-time when the Giants held a commanding 29-17 lead.
The Giants’ pressure harried the Thunderbirds into errors and goalkeeper April Brandley pulled off four intercepts by half-time.
The Thunderbirds failed to make inroads into the deficit in the third quarter, losing it 15-11 to be 44-28 behind at the final change.
Their shooting percentage dipped to 65 per cent, with Georgie Horjus missing three super shots.
The Thunderbirds scrapped hard in the final quarter, but their effort was not enough to prevent the Giants from claiming victory.
Jo Harten scored 28 points and Sophie Dwyer 25 for the Giants, who shot at 76 per cent for the match.
AAP
