Super Netball: Wilson stars as Thunderbirds bounce back, beat Firebirds
The Adelaide Thunderbirds have arrested a recent form slump, beating the Queensland Firebirds by nine points and inflicting their third consecutive loss. It's a stunning reversal of fortunes for the Firebirds, who started the Super Netball season with two wins but - results pending - could drop out of the top four and as low as sixth by the end of the round.
The Thunderbirds' 62-53 victory was set up by MVP Latanya Wilson, who pulled in 10 gains to give her side plenty of scoring opportunities.
Wilson stepped up in the absence of the world's best goal keeper, Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, who's now on parental leave after announcing her pregnancy two weeks ago.
As a result the Thunderbirds have looked below their dual premiership winning form recently, but did enough today to celebrate captain Hannah Petty's 100th national league match celebrations.
The skipper has been inspirational as she's kept the Thunderbirds settled and on track during their recent challenges.
Speaking post match, a disappointed Firebirds' coach Kiri Willis said, 'We did enough defensively to win that game, so we are very frustrated today. It's little things like missed shots, misplaced pass, those little things are starting to hurt us. The competition is so tight and every possession counts. We need to be better at converting those small moments.'
Both sides had a jittery start, with the Thunderbirds' Romelda Aiken-George unusually inaccurate at the post. It allowed the Firebirds to shoot out to a five point lead, but a quiet second quarter, in which they scored just 11 points, saw them rapidly overhauled and three points down by half time.
However, the Thunderbirds weren't able to push the lead out by much, under strong pressure from the Firebirds. 22 year old goal keeper Isabelle Shearer, despite giving away almost 16 years of experience to opponent Aiken-George, came up with six gains as she hassled the veteran into shooting just 34/46 at 74 percent.
The third quarter was a low scoring slog, as each side continued to up their defensive pressure. The Firebirds' introduction of Abigail Latu-Meafou into the shooting circle led a comeback, narrowing the deficit to just one point midway through the term. However Wilson wove some more defensive magic to push the Thunderbirds ahead again and take out the win.
Missed shot conversion proved costly in clutch moments for the Firebirds, as they sat as just 38 percent compared to the Thunderbirds 50.
Firebirds' co-captain Ruby Bakewell-Doran, who's been in strong form this season, played in her 50th national league match.
She was tasked with defending Lauren Frew, who put in an exceptional performance under the post with 22/23.
'Her speed is amazing and she's still learning at times when to put that into play,' said Thunderbirds coach Tania Obst of Frew.
'She's still learning her craft and understanding her impact and what impact that has on the team.'
LADDER LOSERS
With five Super Netball teams all sitting on eight points at the end of last week's matches, Round 5 could shake up the log jam like few other fixtures do.
Having lost today's match the Firebirds could drop as low as sixth place, other results pending, in a massive fall from grace at this point of the season.
With 14 rounds before finals, they will have to quickly find a way to reverse their fortunes if they want to be premiership contenders.
SHAMERA SUBSTITUTE
It's no easy feat to cover the loss of the world's best goal keeper, but the Thunderbirds are giving it a red hot crack.
In the last two weeks they've used fellow Jamaican Latty Wilson, Australian Tilly Garrett, and replacement player, South African Sanmarie Visser.
While all three athletes have the hops, it was Tilly Garrett who was given the job today, allowing Wilson free range to hunt the ball in front of her.
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$17), South Of India $21-$13 Race 9: Headley Grange firm at $650 after bets of $750 and $700 at those odds, Shadizi $11-$12-$8.50 with a bet of $812 at $9.75), Fleetwood $17-$7.50 and a bet of $135 at $16 Race 10: Gitalong $500 at $8.75, $265 at $8.50, Winning Proposal $14-$7.50 with a bet of $165 at $13, Mabel $41-$20, Welcome Gypsy $23-$15, Not That Easy $81-$26 EAGLE FARM Race 1: Sunrays is firm at $2.95 after bets of $1,000 and $500 at those odds, Providence $5-$4.50 after bets of $500 at $5 twice, $572 at $4.50), Jenni Gone Bonkers $16-$19-$10 Race 2: Pisanello $4.80-$4.65 after bets of $527 at $4.80, $857 at $4.65, Steady Ready $5.50-$4.80 with bets of $500 at $5.50, $527 at $4.80 Race 3: Lekvarte $8.25-$7 with bets of $700 at $8.25, $500 at $7 twice, Vivy Air $500 at $8.25, Exotique Miss $14-$8.50, Thalassophile $16-$10 Race 4: Front Page $3.70-$3.30 including a bet of $800 at $3.50, Hidden Wealth $8-$6 with a bet of $2000 at $8.25 Race 5: Winnasedge firms after bets of $1,000 at $3.65, $2,473 at $3.50), Gerringong $6-$4, Coleman $8-$6 Race 6: Transatlantic $7.50-$3.60 after consistent support including bets of $308 at $7.50, $588 at $4.40, $600 at $3.50, Tavs $10-$5.50 after a bet of $222 at $10 Race 7: Joliestar $3.20-$2.30 continues to firm as favourite after bets of $1055 at $2.90, $1,000 at $2.35, Giga Kick has also been well supported with bets of $900 at $4.20, $500 at $4.20 twice, $500 at $4.15, $666 at $4, Payline has been backed at odds with bets of $500 at $17, $500 at $16 Race 8: Philia is firm at $4.40 with bets of $2000 and $1,000 at those odds, Pinito $10-$6 with a bet of $286 at $8 Race 9: King Of Thunder is firm at $7.50 after a bet of $500 at those odds, Politely Dun $27-$19 Race 10: Tashi $11-$6 after a $200 bet at $11), Zazou $17-$11 FLEMINGTON Race 1: Goldenstatewarrior remains favourite after a bet of $1,000 at $3.30, Muktamil is pressing for favouritism after bets of $714 at $3.80, $740 at $3.70, Samuel Langhorne $8-$5.50 after a bet of $285 at $8, Golden Crusader $23-$7 with bets of $135 at $16, $222 at $10 Race 2: Miss Ole $2.45-$2.20 after bets of $1,382 and $600 at $2.45), Espana $9.50-$5 with a $365 a $6.50, Sonofkirk $9-50-$7 Race 3: Jazz Affair $12-$7 after bets of $180 at $12, $1,000 w/p at $7/$2.45, Dream All Day is firm in betting after a $590 wager at $4.40, Cindy Falls $7.50-$5.50 including a wager of $310 at $7.50, Stylish $7.50-$5 after a $310 bet at $7.50 Race 4: Soft Love $4.40-$3.10 with a bet of $590 at $4.40), One Hard Lady $8-$9-$6 including bets of $285 at $8, $250 at $9, Skipjack $12-$16-$9 after a bet of $135 at $16, Romani Ite Domum $8-$10-$7.50 with a $222 bet at $10, It's A Yes has been backed at odds with a $500 wager at $11 Race 5: Regal Vow $11-$9 Race 6: Detroit City $9-$5 with bets of $250 at $9, $310 at $7.50, Taken $11-$13-$6 after bets of $165 a $13, $285 at $8, King Of Enterprise $8.50-$11-$9.50 including bets of $533 and $500 at $9.25, Narbold $16-$11 with a bet of $135 at $16 Race 7: Liberami firms as favourite after bets of $1,000 a $3.15 and $1,000 at $3.05, Ruakaka Raider has been well backed including a $1,000 w/p at $7.50/$2.50, Euphoric $10-$11-$6.50 with a bet of $222 at $10, Townsend $9.50-$7.50 after a $235 bet at $9.50, Shaiyhar $588 at $10.25, Flash Feeling $41-$20 Race 8: Shockletz $4-$5-$4.20 with bets of $500 at $5 twice, Champagne Jenni $16-$7.50 after bets of $135 at $16, $500 at $9.75, $1,000 w/p at $9/$3.10, Hot Majesty $18-$13 including a $120 wager at $18 Race 9: Marble Nine $8.50-$4.60 • EXPERT TIPS: Brad Waters' best bets, race-by-race tips and analysis for Flemington on Saturday ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ INTERSTATE MAIL Flemington Race 2 No.2 MISS OLE Flemington Race 4 No.4 SOFT LOVE Morphettville Race 3 No.4 THERE GOES MY HERO Morphettville Race 9 No.4 PROVEN CORRECT • Morphettville and Pinjarra tips: $26 chance 'totally overlooked' by market PROVINCIAL MAIL Newcastle Race 2 No.1 BOHEMIAN ART Newcastle Race 8 No.1 RUSH ATTACK • EXPERT TIPS: Greg Polson's race-by-race tips, rated prices for Randwick and Newcastle on Saturday #Good luck today and I hope you back plenty of winners Originally published as THE LAST SAY: Tips, big bets, inside mail for today's racing at Randwick, Eagle Farm, Flemington and more
