Netball: GWS Giants survive scare from Adelaide Thunderbirds

Giants coach Julie Fitzgerald praised her team’s composure after they survived a scare in downing the Thunderbirds.

Thunderbird Erin Bell and the Giants’ Sam Poolman go battle yesterday.

Giants coach Julie Fitzgerald has praised her team’s composure after they survived a scare to down Adelaide Thunderbirds 49-47 at Priceline Stadium yesterday.

Ahead by five goals with less than five minutes to play, the Giants’ lead was whittled down to one inside the final 35 seconds as Erin Bell got on a roll, before Jo Harten milked the final play to avert a last-minute disaster.

The result has the Giants second on the ladder, with an impressive 6-1 record in games decided by five goals or less.

“I’m really proud of the way we keep fighting our way out of these really tight games,” Fitzgerald said. “That’s something you’ve got to be happy with, that we keep the composure to win these games that are so tight.”

Underdogs Adelaide looked switched on early, surprising the Giants with a 9-7 springboard before the visitors replied with unanswered goals in a 10-2 burst to help the Giants to an 18-12 lead during the second period.

The momentum swung again, back to the Thunderbirds, who registered seven straight goals to draw three clear.

The Giants called a tactical timeout and clambered back some ground to draw level at 24-all at halftime.

The third quarter was goal for goal but Adelaide stagnated a little late and the Giants led 37-35 at the final break with Kristina Brice strong in attack.

Brice continued to prove too powerful for Ama Agbeze in the fourth quarter as the Giants took control until a late Adelaide rally thrilled the vocal home crowd but it wasn’t quite enough to avoid a 10th consecutive defeat.

Despite the loss, Thunderbirds coach Dan Ryan was buoyed by the fact that his side matched it with one of the league’s pacesetters.

“We forced GWS into lots of errors and made them play quite ugly netball at times,” he said. “I felt everyone contributed when they were out here. That’s what we haven’t had in previous matches. Today it was there and as a result we fell only two goals short to one of the best teams in the competition.”

AAP