Latest news with #Vixens
News.com.au
3 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
4 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).
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Casey Kopua marks Diamonds shooting combo in shock netball return
Casey Kopua in her Suncorp Super Netball debut. Photo: Brendon Thorne Former Silver Fern Casey Kopua got a full game in the world's toughest netball league, six years after retiring. The Giants stunned the netball world when they announced that Kopua would join the injury depleted team for this weekend's Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) game against the Melbourne Vixens in Sydney. Kopua retired from elite netball after helping the Silver Ferns win the 2019 Netball World Cup in Liverpool, when she was named MVP of the final. Apart from the odd club game in Matamata and one-off indoor netball tournaments, that's been it for Kopua in the years since. The mother of three has kept herself fit but it was an extraordinary sight seeing the 39-year-old make her debut in the world's strongest league, after that amount of time away from elite netball. Casey Kopua in the final of the 2019 World Cup. Photo: PHOTOSPORT The Giants, who are languishing at the bottom of SSN, suffered another loss on Sunday but pushed their opponents for three quarters before the Vixens prevailed 71-61. Kopua said she was shocked to be named in the starting line-up. She played a full game at goal keep and was marking none other than the Australian Diamonds goal shoot Sophie Garbin. Vixens goal attack Kiera Austin often pairs with Garbin in the Diamonds shooting end and neither had ever played against Kopua. The Giants got off to a fast start and the Vixens feeders were wary of Kopua and her reputation as one of the greats of the game. The former Silver Ferns captain played 112 Tests for New Zealand. Kopua finished with just a couple of deflections but her presence in the circle and pressure over the shot, did put some hesitation into the minds of the Vixens. Former Magic team-mates Jo Harten (left) and Casey Kopua - reunited at the Giants. Photo: Supplied Kopua constantly talked to and encouraged young Giants goal defence Erin O'Brien. Giants coach Julie Fitzgerald coached Kopua at the Magic in the former trans-Tasman competition. Kopua also played with Giants stalwarts Jo Harten and Jamie-Lee Price at the Magic. Kopua only arrived in Sydney in the middle of the week, after Fitzgerald put out an SOS to her former player. Today's game was also the first time Kopua has played under the two-point shot rule innovation. Casey Kopua is embraced by former Australian Diamond, turned commentator Catherine Cox. Photo: Giants Instagram The Giants led 19-15 after the first quarter and held a two goal lead at half time. But the Vixens took a two goal lead at the final break and put their foot down in the final quarter. At half-time Kopua told Fox Sport that the SSN was what she expected. " …and a whole lot more, it's a lot of fun though playing with different girls and the Aussie style but just getting amongst it, it's awesome," Kopua said. She said she couldn't say no to Fitzgerald. "There's not many people I would have said yes to but I'm loving it and the girls are lovely and we're having a good time on court." It's not known yet if Kopua will stay on as a replacement player for the Giants for the rest of the season. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
West Australian
4 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
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.
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
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.
