The GIANTS will head to sunny Queensland as they take on the Lightning in the final game of the round 11 action.
When and Where: Sunday, June 23 at 4pm at UniSC Arena.
Where to Watch: For fans residing in Australia, you can watch Sunday’s game via Foxtel or Kayo Sports. Meanwhile, international viewers can watch the game via Netball pass. For more information click here.
Last Time They Met: The round five encounter will go down as one of the most memorable matches of the season, as the controversial, extra-time thriller created headlines around the league. After an incorrect in stadium scoreboard sent the game into delayed extra time, it was the GIANTS who proved too good in the final minutes of the match to take the win by eight goals. After not playing any minutes in regular time, Matisse Letherbarrow emerged as the game-changer during extra time, slotting six goals and three Super Super Netball Shots.
What it Means for the GIANTS: The GIANTS sit just a win out of the top four, with fourth through to seventh all separated by just one win. Sitting in seventh place with three wins, the GIANTS have won two of their last five matches since last meeting the Lightning in round five. Despite losing to the red-hot Thunderbirds last week, the GIANTS showed in patches what they were capable of, with a slump late in the second quarter the main cause of the defeat.
What it Means for the Opposition: The Lightning currently hold the hotly contested fourth position on the ladder. After an underwhelming start to the season for the premiership favourites, the star-studded Lightning have entered the second half of the season in strong form. After being without Courtney Bruce for a chunk of the season to date, the Diamonds vice-captain returned in round nine to bolster the side for a win against the Swifts as well as the closely fought battle against the first-placed Vixens last week.
The Name: Jodi-Ann Ward – the Jamaican defender comes off one of her best performances in GIANTS colors, topping the Nissan Net Points for the home team last week. With 59.5 Nissan Net Points, the Jamaican Sunshine Girl recorded four gains, three intercepts, six deflections and four pick-ups.
The Number: 56% - both sides currently average 56% on the Suncorp Super Shot. The Lightning have placed more of an emphasis on the power five time of late, inserting Reilley Batcheldor into the game alongside Steph Fretwell, while we know all three GIANTS shooters aren’t afraid to shoot from distance. Sophie Dwyer (47) and Steph Fretwell (36) currently sit second and sixth respectively in the league for Super Shots scored.
