Netball: Giants to lose three stars after season ends with preliminary final loss to Lightning
THE Giants have missed the chance to avenge their grand final loss a year ago but Super Netball has now also lost three of its biggest stars.
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THE Giants have missed the chance to avenge their grand final loss a year ago but Super Netball has now also lost three of its biggest stars.
After falling to defending champions Sunshine Coast Lightning in the preliminary final, former Australian defender Bec Bulley revealed she, along with Susan Pettitt and English gun Serena Guthrie, has played her last game for the Giants.
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The Giants had hoped to send their stars off with a Grand Final trophy but will now be watching Lightning and West Coast Fever battle for the 2018 crown on TV after their 59-50 loss to the defending champions in Sydney on Sunday.
“We didn’t get the ending we wanted but what a wonderful time we have had,” said mother of one Bulley, who kept her decision to retire secret from her teammates until after the game.
“I love my little family but it’s time to expand. Time to move on from netball.
“I just feel so privileged that I was able to come back and have these two years with the Giants.”
The Giants had talked for weeks of “doing it for Susan” - sending netball veteran Pettitt out on a high after 17 years in the elite game with a Super Netball crown.
As additional motivation they had also wanted the title to thank English star Guthrie for her two years of service following her decisions to return home to play in the UK next season.
But despite their best efforts, the Giants were unable to match the defensive pressure and attacking flair of the Geva Mentor-led Lightning on Sunday.
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“I think things did get to me in the end,” said Pettitt, who shot eight from 15 in an uncharacteristic performance in the first half.
“Kudos to them though, they played very well.”
In their own extraordinary comeback, Lighting has come from second last after four rounds of the competition to making their second Super Netball final with a spectacular back end of the season.
In a defensive first quarter on Sunday the Giants and Lightning were level 11 times and ended the period locked at 15-15.
By halftime Lightning were up 27-26 and went into the final quarter leading 43-37.
“It’s going to be a great contest,” Mentor said of next Sunday’s Grand Final with West Coast Fever.
“There won’t be much in it but a lot of passion.”
SUNSHINE COAST LIGHTNING 59 (Caitlin Bassett 40 Steph Wood 19) GIANTS NETBALL 50 (Joanne Harten 28 Kiera Austin 12 Susan Pettitt 9 Kristina Brice 1) at Qudos Bank Arena
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