Giants v Fever in major semi, Firebirds v Lightning in minor semi of Super Netball
JUST 15 minutes into the final game of the Super Netball regular season and the Giants were already plotting how to topple West Coast Fever for the second time in seven days.
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JUST 15 minutes into the final game of the Super Netball regular season on Sunday and the Giants were already plotting how to topple the West Coast Fever for the second time in seven days when the two clubs re-meet in Saturday’s major semi-final.
The West Coats Fever tweeted their thanks to the Vixens while flying back to Perth after their three-goal loss on Saturday saw the Giants secure the minor premiership and hosting rights at 3pm at Quaycentre on Saturday.
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The Vixens’ first quarter win against Lightning on Sunday was enough to confirm the make-up of the major semi-final with West Coast Fever finishing second on the league ladder behind the Giants.
The 56-51 result in Lightning’s favour determined the defending Super Netball champions will meet the Queensland Firebirds in the minor semi of the elite netball competition.
Shooter Susan Pettitt said the Giants go into their major semi-final at Quaycentre on Saturday with confidence after beating Fever in their final game of the regular season and despite a fourth quarter crumble which saw Fever come from 14 goals down to finish just three in arrears on Saturday night in Sydney.
“It was a great three-quarters of netball for us and that’s encouraging against a side like Fever,’’ Pettitt said.
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“We really do have a sense we can go all the way this year. We have been playing smart netball and this is a real confidence boost.’’
Strangely, there is also potential for the Giants and Fever to clash a third time if they both win through to the grand final to be played later this month.
“It’s a massive, massive boost for us not to be flying to Perth this week. we get to sleep in our own beds and we get another day effectively to train for the match,’’ Pettitt said.
“That’s a big advantage.’’
Pettitt will retire from netball at the end of the season and is hoping to go out a winner after the Giants were last year beaten for the inaugural Super Netball title by Lightning.
The Firebirds will host the minor semi-final in Brisbane on Sunday.
TOP FOUR STANDINGS AT THE END OF THE 2018 REGULAR SEASON
1 Giants, 2 West Coast Fever, 3 Queensland Firebirds, 4 Sunshine Coast Lightning