Sapphire Series round 11: QUT Netball vs USQ Jets at Nissan Arena

Nailbiter comes down to wire with newcomers winning by a point. WATCH THE REPLAY HERE

It was a battle for supremacy on Saturday night when the second and third placed teams on the Sapphire ladder battled it out in a tussle at Nissan Arena with newcomers QUT Netball winning by one point.

A vocal crowd watched QUT win 53-52 over the Jets in the nailbiting win which came down to the wire in the final 20 seconds.

The win will push QUT into second place on the ladder behind the Cougars and just in front of the Jets.

QUT Netball, led by captain Hulita Veve, came through after a seesawing score throughout the game.

Coach Paula Stuart said her team’s strong defence saved many goals and kept the opposition on its toes.

“It was a hard-fought match but it was excellent netball and the umpires did an amazing job and it was a huge credit to them,” Stuart said.

“It was a group effort and a big team play with exceptional defence.

“The highlight was Danielle Taylor who shone all through the game doing all the groundwork and tiring out the opposition shooters.

“Hulita is a huge a standout and is amazing especially when the chips are down, she controls both attack and defence.”

Stuart paid tribute to 15-year-old Dakota Newson who she described as “an absolute essential” in wing attack in place of Keshia Grant, who was nursing a broken thumb.

The coach also praised the efforts of Aleesha Adams as the goalshooter, who also knocked out some solid play in the back.

Here’s who to watch on Saturday night at Nissan Arena starting at 7pm: clockwise from top left: Ipswich Jets Brooke Hams; Ipswich Jets coach Tracey Jeanes-Fraser; QUT coach Paula Stuart; and QUT centre Hulita Veve.

It was not the result Jets coach Tracey Jeanes-Fraser was hoping for with the loss pushing her team into third spot in the highly competitive contest.

The Jets, led by co-captains Stephanie O’Brien and Siobhan Shirlaw, also showed off relentless defence, which dominated the game for both teams.

O’Brien for the Jets took it up a notch and controlled the ball mid court for most of the game.

She had strong opposition from QUT centre and captain Veve, who stepped up to play the game of her life and set up many strategic points.

Both teams started off a bit nervous with a number of turnovers before they settled into a strong game which was 12-12 at quarter time.

Jets goalkeeper Bridey Condren and the backline prevented the ball movement to the QUT shooters in the first quarter.

Veve’s talent shone in the first quarter and although the Jets started off the quarter well, they let the QUT back in the final seconds.

By halftime Jets had pulled away to a 28-24 lead with Brooke Hams and Charlie Bell standouts and QUT’s Taylor also keeping her team in the game.

During the second quarter, the Jets mid court came alive with the connection between O’Brien and Hams and their pinpoint precision delivering into Beryl Friday and Bell.

There was a little more circle mobility in the second quarter, making it easier for the Jets’ feeders to get the ball out to Bell.

QUT’s Taylor went hard on the line of ball in Q2 when contesting and worked really hard to prevent the ball getting to Jets’ players.

In the third quarter, it was neck and neck after Lily Cubby came on to replace Friday and Charlie Bell was temporarily winded.

The score had levelled at 34-34 before strong play from both teams as they jostled for top score before the quarter ended on 43-40 to the Jets.

The score was close to levelling again in the final quarter with a one-point lead initially going to the Jets before QUT pulled away with Taylor setting up a goal in the final 20 seconds to bring the score to 53-52 to the QUT.

NEXT WEEK: Week 12: Sunday, July 4, 1pm, USC Thunder vs Bond Bull Sharks, Nissan Arena