GIANTS Netball defeated the Melbourne Mavericks by seven goals, executing four strong quarters. Although it was a tight game throughout, the GIANTS clinched their second win of the season, and moved their way off the bottom of the Suncorp Super Netball ladder.
With the Melbourne Mavericks finally having found their groove in recent weeks, and the GIANTS desperately chasing their second win, both sides brought their all and started the match with high intensity.
Maddie Hay made her return to the competition this year for the GIANTS following an injury and her impact was immediate in the midcourt for her side.
The Mavericks were able to feed into Shimona Jok effortlessly thanks to the height mismatch with Matilda McDonell.
It was a fast-paced start to the match and both teams remained goal-for-goal for the first five minutes of the game. It was a tip from Jodi-Ann Ward that caused the first turnover and the GIANTS capitalised, giving them a slight lead.
The confident connection between the Mavericks’ midcourters was showcased through Eleanor Cardwell who delivered a cheeky no-look, over-the-head pass to Maisie Nankivell on the edge of the circle.
McDonell picked up a great ball in the circle as a result of a poorly placed feed into Jok, and the team in orange once again converted, allowing them to extend their lead.
A few errors from the visitors meant the Mavs were able to claw back the deficit, but the GIANTS utilised the first Power Five period to their advantage, with their long-range shooting specialist Jo Harten landing a two-pointer. Meanwhile, Cardwell also sank a supershot of her own in return.
The GIANTS won the first quarter for the first time this year, and entered the second period up 19-17.
The GIANTS had a strong start to the second quarter, with McDonell’s footwork allowing her to pick up a tip and gain possession for her side. Following that, Sam Winders picked up a strong intercept and the visitors extended their lead out further.
However, former GIANTS player and now-Mavericks captain Amy Parmenter got an intercept of her own on the edge of the circle, which the Mavs were able to capitalise on.
A poor pass from the GIANTS was picked up by Molly Jovic and the Mavs again scored, reducing their deficit slightly. Then almost immediately after that, another misplaced pass, this time from Sophie Dwyer, forced Hay out of court and gave the home team possession.
There was a lot of back-and-forth between the two teams, with the physicality intensifying and forcing both sides to make errors.
In the final few minutes of the second quarter the GIANTS regained a bit of momentum, and a supershot from Sophie Dwyer extended their lead. But Jok reciprocated with a two-pointer of her own.
A supershot from Harten in the final seconds meant the GIANTS ended the first half up 33-29.
The intensity and physicality stayed extremely high in the second half, with both teams making minimal player changes. Amy Sligar entered the court in wing defence for the GIANTS, while Tayla Fraser came on in wing attack for the Mavs.
There was once again a bit of back-and-forth between both sides but the Mavericks seemed to end up with a few little wins and made the GIANTS pay on the scoreboard.
All of a sudden the score was all locked-up and the third Power Five period proved crucial for both sides as they were desperately trying to get in front.
The Mavs brought long-range shooting specialist Gabby Sinclair on to goal attack, moving Cardwell back to goal shooter. Meanwhile at the other end of the court, Matisse Letherbarrow came on in goal shooter and Harten moved back to goal attack.
Both teams utilised the Power Five to their advantage, with Letherbarrow and Harten both landing a few long-bomb supershots for the GIANTS. But Cardwell and Sinclair both responded with some of their own for the Mavs.
It was the GIANTS who remained on top at the end of the third period, and they entered the final quarter up 53-48.
To start the fourth quarter, both teams returned to their original shooting line-ups.
A miss from Harten early gave the Mavericks possession and they capitalised, and with their own centre pass to follow, they were able to reduce the deficit back to two.
Both the GIANTS and the Mavs remained goal-for-goal for the majority of the final quarter, and it was the final Power Five period that proved crucial.
Both teams unsurprisingly went for the two-pointers early, but there were a few misses from each side. Instead, the GIANTS found themselves with a few small wins and they capitalised with some one-pointers in quick succession.
The visitors dominated the final few minutes of the game and they ended up with the win, with the final score sitting at 66-59.
