Latest news with #KenRosewallArena
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Hannah Petty's career-best performance headlines the Super Netball Team of the Week
A career-best showing from Hannah Petty has led to the Adelaide Thunderbirds captain snaring a spot in the team of the week but there's little doubt the dual-premiership winner would hand that back for a win. The Thunderbirds and NSW Swifts played out the match of the season at Sydney's Ken Rosewall Arena, with the Swifts staging a spirited fightback to keep their unbeaten record alive. Petty was outstanding at centre, with 19 goal assists, 31 feeds and two crucial gains and while her team were pegged back after holding a double-digit lead at one stage in the third term, they showed they remain premiership threats, even without star defender Shamera Sterling-Humphrey. Check out Emma Greenwood's Super Netball team of the week below, and use our team picker tool to select your team of the week for Round 8. Just two Swifts are among nominees for the team of the week though, a reflection of the fact they were well down for much of the night and won the moments – rather than the contest overall – to help their team fight back into the match. Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard was back doing Fowler-Nembhard things in becoming the first player to sink 6500 Super Netball goals, her only miss coming from a super shot attempt in the final seconds with the game won. Check out Emma Greenwood's Super Netball team of the week below, and use our team picker tool to select your team of the week for Round 8. Kiera Austin and Hannah Mundy sneak into CODE Sports' team of the week after leading the Vixens to a hard-fought win, although they had plenty to contend with from a fighting Giants outfit including young defender Erin O'Brien. Sunday Aryang continues to impress in the west, whether defending in the circle or out at wing defence, where she starred on Sunday, while Courtney Bruce made a return to full form to help the Lightning maintain their place in the top four.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Super Netball round 8: Melbourne Vixens 71 d. Giants 61
The Kiera Austin-led Melbourne Vixens defied the unlikely return of a netball great and the hot shot of Matisse Letherbarrow to stage a strong fightback against the Giants and propel themselves to the edge of the top four with back-to-back wins. After regaining their mojo last week against the Queensland Firebirds, the Vixens recovered from a shaky start and a six-goal deficit in the second quarter to score a critical 71-61 win at Ken Rosewall Arena. With the spotlight on the shock comeback of 40-year-old former Silver Ferns captain Casey Kopua as an injury replacement for the Giants, the Vixens were led by an MVP performance from goal attack Austin, who finished with 22 goals from 28 attempts, including six from nine from two-point range, alongside her 33 feeds. The Vixens claimed consecutive wins for the first time this season to keep themselves within striking distance of a top four assault and have now drawn level with the fourth-placed Adelaide Thunderbirds on points, but remain just outside of the top four on percentage. The Vixens didn't take the lead in the match until early in the third quarter and managed to find momentum from there as they started to capitalise on turnover ball and stave off the sharpshooting threat of Letherbarrow, who had been on fire in the goal circle for the Giants. 'We probably started a little bit slower than what we would have wanted, but we were able to come out after halftime and hit it hard, which we should have been doing from the get-go,' Austin said. 'They are a really good super-shot threat, so I'm really proud of the defenders, I thought they stayed switched on the whole time. 'I think we probably could have rewarded them a little bit more in the first half, but we're building and it's good things to take from it and lots to look forward to for next week.' Sophie Garbin (43/51) topscored, while captain Kate Moloney and wing attack Hannah Mundy also starred in the midcourt for the Vixens, who face the Mavericks in the Melbourne derby next round. CASEY COMEBACK All eyes were on the comeback of former Silver Ferns captain Casey Kopua after the Giants pulled the biggest selection shock of the season this week. Called on to replace the injured Jodi-Ann Ward, Kopua has been retired since 2019, but was thrust straight into the action at goal keeper on Diamonds' goal shooter Sophie Garbin. Kopua showed she had lost none of her goal-circle smarts, causing trouble for the Vixens' gaolers with her long reach and ability to read the play. Kopua, whose instruction for the Giants' young defenders Erin O'Brien and Amy Sligar out the front was also invaluable, played the full 60 minutes at goal keeper. Pre-game, Giants' coach Julie Fitzgerald defended the decision to bring Kopua in as an injury replacement instead of a pathway player. 'If you look at it we are by far the youngest team in the league,' Fitzgerald said. 'I think the best thing I can do for those young pathway athletes is to put someone out there with a bit of experience and guidance who can lead them around the court a bit.' But Fitzgerald was unable to shed any light on how long the Kopua comeback would last. 'How long she will be here for is a little bit debatable at the moment,' Fitzgerald said. 'But we will see. I asked her on Tuesday, she was on a plane Wednesday and at training on Thursday, which I think is pretty incredible for a mother of three.' While the spotlight was on Kopua, it was Letherbarrow who lit up the goal circle at the other end with her long-range shooting. Letherbarrow, starting at goal shooter, was on fire during the power play period and equalled her own best of nine supershots. The 23-year-old finished with 40 from 50 for the match alongside goal attack Sophie Dwyer (10 from 12).
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Vixens pull off big comeback in Super Netball
The Melbourne Vixens remain in touch with the Super Netball top four after a 71-61 win over the Giants at Ken Rosewall Arena. Down by four at quarter-time and still two at the main break, the Vixens clicked into gear in the second half to notch consecutive victories for the first time this season. Despite being anchored to the bottom of the ladder with just one win, the Giants stormed out of the blocks and threatened to derail the Vixens' finals aspirations. But Melbourne pulled away with an 18-10 final quarter, including sinking a super shot on the fulltime buzzer. Goal attack Kiera Austin, who starred by making 16 of her 19 shots while giving off 20 goal assists, described the encounter as "tiring". "The Giants came out really well and credit to them," Austin told Fox Sports. "I think we probably started a bit slower than what we would have wanted, but stoked to have been able to come out at halftime and actually really hit it hard - what we should be doing from the get go. "I'm really proud of our defenders, I thought they stayed switched on the whole time. "We probably could have rewarded them a little bit more in the first half, but we're building so we'll take some good things from it." The Vixens return home for a clash with Melbourne rivals, the Mavericks, next Sunday. Next up for the Giants is a tough road match in Adelaide against the Thunderbirds, who suffered a close defeat to undefeated juggernaut NSW Swifts on Saturday night.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fever on fire, cut down Giants for fifth-straight win
West Coast Fever have rocketed to second place on the Super Netball table after defeating the Giants 75-66 at Ken Rosewall Arena. The Fever got off to a flyer on Saturday night, before being challenged by the Sydney-siders mid-match, then sprinted to the finish line. After starting the season by copping back-to-back hammerings, West Coast are now riding a five-game winning streak and trail only the undefeated NSW Swifts on the ladder. Superstar shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard nailed 63 goals from 66 attempts, linking beautifully with goal attack Alice Teague-Neeld, who racked up 23 assists and 38 feeds. View this post on Instagram A post shared by West Coast Fever 💚 (@westcoastfeverofficial) "Giants are a really good team - we know that - and we cannot underestimate what they can bring on any day," Fowler-Nembhard said. "The sport keeps growing every year, so I have to keep growing with it if I want to keep playing. "I threw away some silly balls today, but did OK. Fowler-Nembhard hit 18 shots from as many attempts in the opening frame as the Fever went at 100 per cent to use a 7-1 headstart as the foundation for a 22-14 quarter-time lead. The Giants had six turnovers for the term, only co-captain Jamie-Lee Price remotely impressing. The margin blew out to 29-19 in the second quarter before the last-placed Giants flipped the script and closed the gap to 40-36 at halftime. A new record for Fowler-Nembhard 😮💨9000 national league goals and counting 🐐Watch every game live on Kayo Sports, Foxtel and Binge. — Suncorp Super Netball (@SuperNetball) May 24, 2025 Price continued to wreak havoc in the middle, while Matisse Letherbarrow shrugged off a slow start to knock down 15 goals for the term. Sniffing a boilover, the Giants' defensive pressure was up and their offence flowing nicely as they levelled the scores at 52-all in third. Giants goal defence Jodi-Ann Ward produced a superb intercept but hurt her left knee while landing and hobbled off the court, joining shooter Jo Harten, who came off early, and defender Maddie Hay, who exited with illness midway through the second. The Fever regained the momentum with a 6-1 run, before Sophie Dwyer bobbled in a super shot on the three-quarter time bell for the Giants to reduce the gap to 60-55. Sunday Aryang had five deflections in the fourth term as West Coast dominated defensively to stretch their advantage to 13 before a pair of two-pointers to Letherbarrow at the death minimised some of the damage.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
No 'pretty netball' but Swifts dig deep, stay unbeaten
The NSW Swifts sit outright top of the Super Netball ladder after claiming a scrappy 59-51 win over the Melbourne Vixens for their fifth win on the bounce. But brilliant defender Sarah Klau believes there is plenty yet to come from the only unbeaten team in the league. A magnificent performance from goalkeeper Klau proved critical as the Swifts fought back from trailing 15-12 at quarter-time. The Swifts took the lead in the second quarter and never looked back, holding strong to eventually shake off the Vixens at Ken Rosewall Arena. With it, they claimed the Sargeant-McKinnis Cup, while spoiling the party for Vixens coach Simone McKinnis, who was coaching her 200th national league game. "We knew Vixens were gonna come out strong and it did take up until that last quarter," player of the match Klau told Fox Sports. "So really proud of the girls to keep pushing. It wasn't the most pretty netball but we got the job done, which we're really pleased about. "To start off the season so strong, it's great but there's still a long way to go. "I'm sure we'll learn lots from this game." Klau, who had five intercepts, 13 deflections and nine gains, was modest when asked about her own superb performance. The defender also limited Sophie Garbin to 35 goals (42 attempts). "It's a credit to the girls as well - it was a full-court defensive pressure," she said. "But really happy - the combination between 'Turno' (Maddy Turner) and I, it's just working." That's 5 from 5 for the @NSWSwifts 👏 — Suncorp Super Netball (@SuperNetball) May 11, 2025 In attack, English goal attack Helen Houseby (6/6) nailed three critical Super Shots, while Grace Nweke shot the lights out, nailing 47 of 50 attempts. The Vixens (2-2) sit outside the top four after their second defeat. The Swifts next face the Giants at Ken Rosewall Arena next Sunday, when the Vixens will host Sunshine Coast Lightning at John Cain Arena.
