Game one saw the red-hot Magpies continue their strong start to 2019, beating the NSW Swifts 29 goals to 51 and all but securing their place in Sunday’s Grand Final.
Shimona Nelson dominated the Swifts defence and will be licking her lips thinking about the world-class delivery she’ll be receiving all season from the likes of Madi Robinson, Kelsey Browne and Kim Ravaillion.
Paige Hadley rebounded beautifully after copping a head knock in game 1, driving the Swifts forward and blanketing the Magpies’ attacks, but Magpies Netball proved too strong in the end.
It was the Kim Green show in game 2, where she led GIANTS Netball to a big 40 to 28 goal win over the West Coast Fever.
Green tore the Fever’s defence to shreds with her pinpoint passing and her speed around the court made it impossible for West Coast to push forward with any momentum.
GIANTS Netball will take an incredibly dynamic attacking pair into the 2019 season with Jo Harten and Kiera Austin operating as the perfect thunder and lightning duo on their way to scoring 37 goals between them.
Kaylia Stanton was a standout for the Fever, looking steady beneath the ring and scoring 28 from 35. She’ll benefit from the return of last year’s league MVP Jhaniele Fowler.
Game three between the Melbourne Vixens and Adelaide Thunderbirds was a much tighter affair with the Vixens holding on to a 30 to 24 goal win.
New Adelaide recruits Shamera Sterling and Layla Guscoth combined well throughout the game and Thunderbird fans will hope that they can continue their early form into the season.
The Vixens will be excited with the performances of young attacke Ine-Mari Venter and midcourter Lara Dunkley, who pushed the Thunderbirds hard to finish the game.
The first Queensland derby of 2019 certainly lived up to the billing as the both teams traded goals for much of the game before the Sunshine Coast Lightning outlasted the Queensland Firebirds with a 40 to 36 goal win.
The Firebirds came out of the gates hard in-front of their home crowd with Romelda Aiken and Gretel Tippett proving why they are the most dangerous attacking duo in the league.
But the Sunshine Coast’s class really began to shine through in the second and it all started in the engine room, where Laura Langman, Madeline Mcauliffe and Jacqui Russel went to another level.
Peace Proscovia and Cara Koenen took control of the game in the final quarter, scoring 12-crucial-goals and sealing the game for the Sunshine Coast Lightning.
The only injury from the session was to GIANTS Netball midcourter Jamie-Lee Price, who suffered a heavy knock, splitting open her lip.
The third and final session of the Suncorp #TeamGirls Cup will begin at 5pm local time.
SESSION TWO – FINAL SCORES
Magpies Netball 51 def NSW Swifts 29
GIANTS Netball 40 def West Coast Fever 28
Melbourne Vixens 30 def Adelaide Thunderbirds 24
Sunshine Coast Lightning 40 def Queensland Firebirds 36
