GIANTS Netball have finished their Trans-Tasman Challenge with two wins from two matches after defeating the Northern Mystics by 10 goals.
The win didn’t come easy for the GIANTS, with the margin sitting at just four goals heading into the final quarter.
In true pre-season fashion, the GIANTS lined-up at the first whistle with a different starting seven to that of the previous game – testing out different combinations and on-court opportunities.
Kiera Austin paired Caitlin Bassett in the shooting circle while Amy Parmenter started in the WA bib and Toni Anderson lined up at WD.
In what was a strong and physical game, the first quarter was controlled by the home team.
The Mystics worked hard to extend what was once a four-goal lead but the GIANTS switched on and clawed it back to trail by just two goals at the end of the first term.
Despite a nine-goal margin in favour of the Mystics partway through the second quarter, it was the GIANTS that held the lead at the half-time break by a slim two goals.
The fight for the win continued in the third with the lead see-sawing once again.
Jamie-Lee Price played out a full 60 minutes of tough netball in centre and defenders Kristiana Manu’a and Sam Poolman had their work cut out for them up against one of New Zealand’s up and coming goal shooters in 193cm Grace Nweke.
Defensive pressure all throughout the court lifted in the second half, allowing plenty of steals, loose balls and turnovers down the court.
The GIANTS saved their best for the last quarter as they outran and outplayed the Mystics to win the quarter 19 goals to 12.
The GIANTS will finish their trip to New Zealand when they take on the Waikato Bay Plenty of Magic in a closed practice match in Auckland tomorrow.
Q1: 14 – 16
Q2: 30 – 28
Q3: 47 – 44
Q4: 66 – 56
Caitlin Bassett 15/16 (94%)
Kiera Austin 34/42 (81%)
Jo Harten 17/21 (81%)
