Live stream: Sapphire Series, Round 12, Titans v Thunder and Cougars v Tigers

The Brisbane North Cougars and the Gold Coast Titans have flexed their muscles as finals appear on the horizon. See how they went about their latest conquests in full REPLAYS.

The Gold Coast Titans have consolidated their top-four prospects with a solid victory over the Sunshine Coast Thunder in the Sapphire Series.

The 58-53 result wasn’t the same magnitude of their 71-50 defeat of the Thunder earlier in the season.

But they still meant business as they accelerated away from the Thunder in the final quarter.

Both teams had been locked at 43-all when they went into their respective three-quarter-time huddles.

But the Titans came swinging as they poured on the pressure early in the last quarter.

As much as they tried, the Thunder coudn’t go with them.

They even blew the margin out to 10 points before the Thunder ate into that when the high-quality contest was all but over.

REPLAYS

ACU Brisbane Cougars v Carina Tigers

Watch the full replay in the window above.

Sunshine Coast Thunder v Gold Coast Titans

Check the full LIVE STREAM schedule for details.

In the other match, the Brisbane North Cougars jumped the Carina Tigers in the first quarter and never looked back as they ran out 62-46 winners.

The win keeps the Cougars right in the hunt to secure a top-four position, while the Tigers can start looking to next year.

The opening term proved pivotal, with the Tigers unable to bridge the 12-goal gap established by the Cougars despite matching them for most of the contest until the final 10 minutes.

It was there that fatigue and small errors really began to hurt them.

Cougars, on the other hand, maintained their consistency to run out the game in full flight for a 16-goal win.

Shannon Eagland (l) in action for the Lightning in a recent Super Netball match.

PREVIEW

Sunshine Coast Thunder coach Simone Nalatu is delighted to have her full compliment of players available as they look to reverse an early season Sapphire Series defeat to Gold Coast Titans on Sunday.

It’s second against third in a marquee match-up – and there’s plenty on the line with just three rounds remaining before the finals.

Catch the clash from 4pm as part a big double header, which also includes the Brisbane North Cougars v Carina Tigers battle, LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on KommunityTV.

When Nalatu’s side faced Gold Coast back in round six, the Titans grabbed an impressive 71-50 success.

But this time around, with the finals fast approaching, the Thunder have Shannon Eagland and their captain, Maddie Hinchliff, back to combat young guns Talitah FaiFai and Josie Bingham.

With a top four finish likely, but not guaranteed, Nalatu has her squad primed in what she has earmarked as a ‘must win’.

“From our perspective it is a must win. We want to be in the final four,” said Nalatu.

“It will give us plenty of confidence if we can get the win against them.

“There’s plenty of motivation for us to play well.”

Gold Coast Titans’ Josie Bingham.

With defensive aces Eagland and Hinchliff back, it certainly gives the Thunder a more balanced look.

“It is great to have them back,” Nalatu said of her Lightning training partners who could play a key role in restricting the damage FaiFai and Bingham can deal.

“They (Eagland, Hinchliff) bring a mountain of experience.

“We have been working on a squad mentality … but those two in particular, they are two of our most experienced players.”

Originally published as Live stream: Sapphire Series, Round 12, Titans v Thunder and Cougars v Tigers