Netball
AAP 6y

Super Netball set for grudge finals series

Netball

Super Netball is headed for a grudge finals series after spots were determined on a thrilling final day of the regular season.

Defending champions Sunshine Coast Lightning secured the fourth and last finals berth with a 56-51 away victory over the fifth-placed Melbourne Vixens on Sunday, but they missed the chance to finish as high as second when the bonus points were evenly split.

It means the Sydney-based Giants host second-placed West Coast Fever in Saturday's major semi-final, having beaten them by three goals to overhaul them and claim the minor premiership on Saturday.

The winner will advance straight to the grand final. The loser will face the winner of Sunday's sudden-death minor semi-final, a derby clash between third-placed Queensland Firebirds and the Lightning in Brisbane.

The Fever, who led the competition all season until the final round, are sweating on scans results for form centre Verity Charles after she was carried from the court in the final minute of Saturday's loss with a knee injury.

But they will take heart and momentum from out-scoring the Giants 22-11 in a blistering final quarter.

The Giants believe they're well prepared for the re-match after hours of video study on the Fever paid off.

"We knew what we wanted to do and we did it for those first three quarters," said Giant goal attack Jo Harten.

"The challenge now is: can we do it again, but can we do it for 60 [minutes]?"

Sunday's all-Queensland match promises to be a bruising affair between two sides who finished level on competition points, separated only on percentage.

The Lightning's English defender Geva Mentor was already cheekily claiming a home advantage at the Firebirds' Brisbane Entertainment Centre court.

"We're in Queensland so we will take it as our home final," Mentor said.

"For us to be against the Firebirds in Queensland, that derby game has been so vicious all season so I think it's really exciting for the crowd, for our fans and for netball in general."

The Firebirds demolished Collingwood Magpies 76-44 on Saturday to cement their spot in the play-offs and Magpies coach Kristy Keppich-Birrell tipped them as the team to beat.

"They are the team that have improved the most over the season," Keppich-Birrell said.

"I think most people would think the Fever are the team to beat but I think the Firebirds are the ones who have the cattle and the know-how of how to beat them so they are my tip.

^ Back to Top ^