Latest news with #ShameraSterling-Humphrey
The Advertiser
10-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Thunderbirds clip Firebirds' wings in Super showdown
Reigning champions Adelaide have snapped a two-game losing streak, overcoming Queensland in a Super Netball top-four clash in Brisbane. The Thunderbirds moved to outright second on the competition table with a rousing 62-53 win over the Firebirds on Saturday, as all teams chase the unbeaten NSW Swifts. Suffering a third straight loss, the Firebirds remain in fourth with the remainder of the round to be completed. The loss capped a forgettable week for the Queensland side, who were back in the headlines with allegations by ex-player Remi Kamo of a toxic culture at the club resurfacing. Adelaide were missing star defender Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, who announced her pregnancy last week, but goal defence Latanya Wilson stepped up with a stand-out performance. "We knew that we wanted this game and we did it for our skipper (Hannah Petty) as it was her 100th game," said Wilson, who was named player of the match. "I'm so proud of my own performance as I've known that there's been room for improvement but I'm humbled to go out there and try to do the best for the team in each game." The Firebirds got off to a strong start, racing to a 19-17 lead, with goal-shooter Mary Cholhok finding the ring for 11 goals. But Adelaide answered to dominate the second stanza to hold a 33-30 lead by halftime. Little split the teams in the third quarter, although the visitors were able to maintain their three-point buffer thanks to Romelda Aiken-George. The veteran sharpshooter finished the match with a haul of 34 goals from 46 attempts while goal attack Lauren Frew was on range, bagging a valuable 22 from 23. It had an immediate impact with Aiken-George and Lauren Frew scoring back-to-back goals for a 52-49 lead. With the margin blowing out to five goals, Firebirds coach Kiri Wills tried the same tactic but her side were unable to close the gap in the dying minutes. Cholhok finished with 35 goals from 47 attempts to lead their scoring while goal-keeper Isabelle Shearer was the star performer in defence. Reigning champions Adelaide have snapped a two-game losing streak, overcoming Queensland in a Super Netball top-four clash in Brisbane. The Thunderbirds moved to outright second on the competition table with a rousing 62-53 win over the Firebirds on Saturday, as all teams chase the unbeaten NSW Swifts. Suffering a third straight loss, the Firebirds remain in fourth with the remainder of the round to be completed. The loss capped a forgettable week for the Queensland side, who were back in the headlines with allegations by ex-player Remi Kamo of a toxic culture at the club resurfacing. Adelaide were missing star defender Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, who announced her pregnancy last week, but goal defence Latanya Wilson stepped up with a stand-out performance. "We knew that we wanted this game and we did it for our skipper (Hannah Petty) as it was her 100th game," said Wilson, who was named player of the match. "I'm so proud of my own performance as I've known that there's been room for improvement but I'm humbled to go out there and try to do the best for the team in each game." The Firebirds got off to a strong start, racing to a 19-17 lead, with goal-shooter Mary Cholhok finding the ring for 11 goals. But Adelaide answered to dominate the second stanza to hold a 33-30 lead by halftime. Little split the teams in the third quarter, although the visitors were able to maintain their three-point buffer thanks to Romelda Aiken-George. The veteran sharpshooter finished the match with a haul of 34 goals from 46 attempts while goal attack Lauren Frew was on range, bagging a valuable 22 from 23. It had an immediate impact with Aiken-George and Lauren Frew scoring back-to-back goals for a 52-49 lead. With the margin blowing out to five goals, Firebirds coach Kiri Wills tried the same tactic but her side were unable to close the gap in the dying minutes. Cholhok finished with 35 goals from 47 attempts to lead their scoring while goal-keeper Isabelle Shearer was the star performer in defence. Reigning champions Adelaide have snapped a two-game losing streak, overcoming Queensland in a Super Netball top-four clash in Brisbane. The Thunderbirds moved to outright second on the competition table with a rousing 62-53 win over the Firebirds on Saturday, as all teams chase the unbeaten NSW Swifts. Suffering a third straight loss, the Firebirds remain in fourth with the remainder of the round to be completed. The loss capped a forgettable week for the Queensland side, who were back in the headlines with allegations by ex-player Remi Kamo of a toxic culture at the club resurfacing. Adelaide were missing star defender Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, who announced her pregnancy last week, but goal defence Latanya Wilson stepped up with a stand-out performance. "We knew that we wanted this game and we did it for our skipper (Hannah Petty) as it was her 100th game," said Wilson, who was named player of the match. "I'm so proud of my own performance as I've known that there's been room for improvement but I'm humbled to go out there and try to do the best for the team in each game." The Firebirds got off to a strong start, racing to a 19-17 lead, with goal-shooter Mary Cholhok finding the ring for 11 goals. But Adelaide answered to dominate the second stanza to hold a 33-30 lead by halftime. Little split the teams in the third quarter, although the visitors were able to maintain their three-point buffer thanks to Romelda Aiken-George. The veteran sharpshooter finished the match with a haul of 34 goals from 46 attempts while goal attack Lauren Frew was on range, bagging a valuable 22 from 23. It had an immediate impact with Aiken-George and Lauren Frew scoring back-to-back goals for a 52-49 lead. With the margin blowing out to five goals, Firebirds coach Kiri Wills tried the same tactic but her side were unable to close the gap in the dying minutes. Cholhok finished with 35 goals from 47 attempts to lead their scoring while goal-keeper Isabelle Shearer was the star performer in defence.
The Advertiser
03-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Thunderbirds suffer shock Super Netball loss to Giants
The Adelaide Thunderbirds' pursuit of a Super Netball title three-peat is on shaky ground after losing Shamera Sterling-Humphrey for the season and suffering a 64-63 loss to the Giants at Ken Rosewall Arena.
News.com.au
03-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Super Netball 2025: Defending premiers Adelaide Thunderbirds defeated by winless Giants in massive upset
Giants Netball have pulled off the biggest upset of the 2025 Super Netball season to date by overthrowing the 2024 premiers, Adelaide Thunderbirds by one point. After leading by as much as eight points in the second quarter, Giants kept their composure as the Thunderbirds mounted a last-ditch comeback. Erin O'Brien, one of Giants' rising stars, pulled off a matchwinning intercept at the 57-minute mark, giving her side a small buffer which put the match just out of reach for the visitors. Earlier in the week Thunderbirds star defender Shamera Sterling-Humphrey announced she'd be missing the remainder of the season while pregnant with her first child, and the previously winless, eighth placed Giants pounced on this disruption to claim the morale-boosting 64 to 63 point victory. Think you're a sports fanatic? Take the test. Play daily trivia for FREE on CODE Sports. Sign up here > With Sterling-Humphrey sidelined due her pregnancy, the Thunderbirds elevated South African Sanmarie Visser into the starting seven as a replacement player. Visser finished the match with two intercepts and five deflections on debut, although her hefty 24 penalties will likely be a 'work-on' for matches to follow. Giants capitalised on the new look Thunderbirds defensive end to get out to a 3-0 lead within the first 90 seconds of play. They continued to ride momentum as they pushed the lead to as much as eight points at various points throughout the match. The Thunderbirds had moments when they threatened to come back at the bottom of the ladder Giants. Talking post match, Giants coach, Julie Fitzgerald said she was proud of her side's composure in the face of that pressure. 'That is what I am most proud of. For us to maintain composure in what was intense pressure and those two middle quarters when it was goal-for-goal, those are moments when in the past we would have let them get on top of us.' Young defensive duo, Erin O'Brien and Amy Sligar had their best games of the season. Both showed tenacity and maturity beyond their years and collectively contributed five gains for the home side. Speaking post match about the task of containing Thunderbird Romelda Aiken-George, O'Brien said, 'It was tough. She was someone I loved to watch when I was growing up so to play against her is a real privilege. I love the challenge of trying to get her a bit annoyed. It was fun.' Co-Captain Jo Harten won MVP honours, saying post match, 'I loved being out there in the second half. With a four week old newborn at home coming here is just … I love playing netball and letting go. It is such a privilege.' Goal attack Sophie Dwyer silenced the negative commentary surrounding her recent form as she returned to her best for the Giants. The 24-year-old put up 23 from 28 and also contributed 21 centre pass receives and two pick-ups in her 60 minutes of play. WHO IS SANMARIE VISSER? The Thunderbirds newest recruit might not be a household name yet, but her signing was a coup for the Thunderbirds. The 21 year old made her debut for the South African Proteas in January against Jamaica before collecting Player of the Match accolades in the Nations Cup. At the 2024 Fast5 World Tournament she was one of the competition's leading defenders, collecting nine rebounds, and 13 deflections across the six 30-minute matches, showing her readiness to step onto a Super Netball court. HOW TO REPLACE A LEGEND Pregame, Thunderbirds coach Tania Obst spoke to commentary about the loss of Sterling-Humphrey, who has now returned to Jamaica, and the introduction of Visser. 'We have known for a little while [about Shamera's pregnancy] but it was great that she was able to go for as long as she did. She [Visser] has been around the group for a little while and we have integrated her in different moments in our pre-season and the last three weeks. She is very athletic. Her ability to back up and go again with efforts is sensational.'
