NS SCOREBOARD – Oct 21, 2020

NS SCOREBOARD – Oct 21, 2020

By |2021-01-30T13:23:06+10:00October 21st, 2020|Categories: AUS, Tournaments, Uncategorised, World|0 Comments

Since the last edition of the NS SCOREBOARD, we’ve seen the final two matches of the 2020 Suncorp Super Netball competition play out.

First there was the Preliminary Final between Lightning and Fever. And it’s fair to say that this season, Fever well and truly had Lightning’s measure. Wins by 24 and 20 goals in the regular season, were backed up by a 14 goal win in the prelim. It seems Lightning’s game style is simply all wrong for playing Fever. Their game fell apart. Despite shooting at 100%, Cara Koenen was well held with just 14 goals. Meanwhile, Lightning had no answers for Jhaniele Fowler at the other end. Eight super shots from Steph Wood simply brought some small form of respectability to the margin. In their fourth season in the competition, this is the first time that Lightning has failed to make the grand final. And now we have news that next year they will be without Laura Langman as the champion kiwi has announced her retirement.

On to the grand final and what a battle. Unquestionably the two best teams in the competition made it to the big one, and they really put on a show. The lead changed hands 8 times, as well as numerous times the scores were level. Fever started well as they always tend to do, before Vixens pegged them back and then took over in the third quarter. Often called the premiership quarter, the 3rd period has been Vixens’ specialty this year, and they dominated again, at one stage getting out to a lead of 5 goals, the biggest of the match. The momentum changed from one team to the other in the last quarter before a few crucial moments. A misplaced back pass from Stacey Francis that Mwai Kumwenda intercepted, a Caitlin Thwaites super shot which gained Vixens a two goal lead and then a missed super shot from Alice Teague-Neeld and resulting Vixens rebound which helped them seal the victory in the dying stages. Vixens came away with a two goal win over a gallant Fever side who fought all the way and didn’t deserve to lose. The standard from both teams was incredible. Fever had just 11 turnovers for the match, but Vixens went one better with 10, the lowest total from any team for the year. Mwai Kumwenda was brilliant at goal shooter for Vixens and deserved her game MVP, while Jhaniele Fowler again did everything she possibly could for Fever.

And so there it is, The end of a very different season. At one stage, it appeared we may not even have a Super Netball competition this year, so it’s a big thumbs up to everyone involved in getting it done. Congratulations Melbourne Vixens and hard luck West Coast Fever. Normally there would be a Constellation Cup coming up now, but that’s not the case this year with no Diamonds matches scheduled due to Covid-19. There will still be international netball from New Zealand however. The Cadbury Series starts today, and then it will be the Silver Ferns v the Roses for the Taini Jamison Trophy. South Africa’s national competition, the Telkom Netball League is also currently underway, with teams going through a punishing schedule ahead of the finals next week.


 

2020 SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL – Preliminary Final

Sunshine Coast Lightning 59 (12, 11, 18, 18) lost to West Coast Fever 73 (21, 18, 20, 14)

Lightning
Wood 21/29 (71%)
Proscovia 16/18 (89%)
Koenen 14/14 (100%)
Team Total: 51/61 (84%)

Super shots 8/12 (Wood 8/12)
Assists 45 (Scherian 16)
Gains 7 (Pretorius 5)

Fever
Fowler 60/62 (97%)
Teague-Neeld 10/18 (56%)
Team Total: 70/80 (88%)

Super shots 3/5 (Teague-Neeld 3/4, Fowler 0/1)
Assists 58 (Teague-Neeld 28)
Gains 20 (Bruce 10)

Player of the Match: Emma Cosh (Fever)


 

2020 SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL – Grand Final

Melbourne Vixens 66 (15, 17, 18, 16) def West Coast Fever 64 (16, 17, 14, 17)

Vixens
Kumwenda 47/50 (94%)
Thwaites 13/17 (77%)
Philip 3/3 (100%)
Team Total: 63/70 (90%)

Super shots 3/7 (Thwaites 3/7)
Assists 61 (Watson 38)
Gains 7 (Mannix 3)

Fever
Fowler 55/56 (98%)
Teague-Neeld 6/10 (60%)
Team Total: 61/66 (92%)

Super shots 3/6 (Teague-Neeld 2/5, Fowler 1/1)
Assists 58 (Teague-Neeld 28)
Gains 5 (Bruce 3)

Player of the Match: Mwai Kumwenda (Vixens)


 

Upcoming matches:

Cadbury Series
(NZ Times)

Wed 21 October
6pm – NZ U21s v NZ Men
8pm – Silver Ferns v NZ A

Thu 22 October
6pm – NZ A v NZ U21s
8pm – Silver Ferns v NZ Men

Fri 23 October
6pm – NZ Men v NZ A
8pm – Silver Ferns v NZ U21s

Sat 24 October
6pm – Third Place Playoff
8pm – Final


 

Telkom Netball League Ladder

(after 6 matches)

Division A

1 . Gauteng Jaguars . 11 pts
2 . Golden Fireballs . 8 pts
3 . Southern Stings . 7 pts
4 . Free State Crinums . 6 pts
5 . North west Flames . 4 pts
6 . Kingdom Stars . 0 pts

Division B

1 . Mpumalanga Sunbirds . 10 pts
2 . Eastern Cape Aloes . 8 pts
3 . Western Cape Tornados . 8 pts
4 . Kingdom Queens . 4 pts
5 . Northern Cape Diamonds . 4 pts
6 . Limpopo Baobabs . 2 pts

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