By Phina Newton
To start off Sunday's Super Netball fixture, the GIANTS faced off against reigning champions the West Coast Fever.
Minimising Jhaniele Fowler was as always, a tough ask, but down the other end the GIANTS welcomed back Maddie Hay and Jo Harten into their line-up.
The pair were in rhythm from the get-go, connecting very well.
Hay was having an immediate impact. Using her previous experience as WD to assist in her WA position, showing great aggression and getting plenty of intercepts.
The Fever shot very well, Fowler was still at 100% and Sasha Glasgow did well to hit Super Shots and apply pressure on the GIANTS – although Sophie Dwyer was up to the task.
The Fever going into quarter time up by one goal as the lead continued to seesaw.
The Fever came out very strong in the second quarter, Fowler continuing her hot shooting form combined with some errors from the GIANTS allowed the Fever to gain momentum and take the lead out to ten goals.
The scoreboard pressure started to build and caused Sophie Dwyer to hesitate and fumble the ball. However, Jamie-Lee Price worked overtime to win intercepts and give her team second chances.
GIANTS welcomed back Jo Harten into their lineup.The Super Shot buzzer sounded, and Dwyer was back in her comfort zone, hitting consecutive two-pointers to swing the momentum back and reduce the margin. After being down by ten, they came back and thanks to a Dwyer Super Shot were down just by three.
Ending the half with momentum, the GIANTS didn’t get an ideal start to begin the third quarter.
The Fever dominated and although there were still intercepts and strong defence from the GIANTS, with Fowler unable to miss, any turnovers they gave up meant the deficit grew and they fell further behind.
It was clear they were relying on the Super Shot to keep them in the game, but a few missed shots by Harten meant they couldn’t get the margin down, finishing the quarter down by ten.
It was a much better start for the GIANTS in the final term, going on a little run. Still trailing the Fever, both teams lifted their defensive energy with the finish line in sight.
A couple of tactical time-outs enabled the GIANTS to have the advantage, but they couldn’t quite make the most of it.
The GIANTS refused to give up, they stayed within reach, holding out for the power five. A smart tactic as they can’t miss from super shot range.
Dwyer and Harten shot wonderfully, putting the Fever under plenty of pressure. So much so that coach Dan Ryan subbed Rudi Ellis into GK.
However, the GIANTS skipper locked it up with 40 seconds left, but it just wasn’t enough as the defending premiers took it out by one goal in the last 30 seconds.
