3 minute read
Giants Netball open their account for the 2019 Super Netball season after knocking off Collingwood Magpies in a scrappy encounter in Sydney
The Giants have stormed to their first win of the Super Netball season, grinding out a 58-50 victory over Collingwood.
With Caitlin Bassett (40 goals from 42 attempts) leading the attack, the Giants secured the Sunday win and two bonus points at Sydney's Quaycentre to inflict a first defeat on the Magpies for 2019.
Last season's minor premiers found themselves bottom of the ladder on a single bonus point after two rounds but ended their drought thanks to a smothering defensive effort, resulting in a massive 81-58 advantage in circle feeds.
The home side led by three goals after a physical opening half that featured strong defensive pressure and a combined 39 turnovers before pulling away with a 17-12 third term.
First-year midcourter Amy Parmenter and keeper Sam Poolman were standouts at the defensive end while Kim Green and Jamie-Lee Price added plenty of drive through the midcourt.
Parmenter credited a focus on attacking the ball as the key to breaking their duck for the season.
"I think just having a crack at the ball," she said. "I know we've got a lot of players on our team who like to have a hunt and really love to be tenacious out there."
Shimona Nelson finished with 43-of-50 shooting but with the Giants quelling the influence of Nat Medhurst, the Magpies were unable to generate enough chances to stay in touch.
"We knew the Giants were going to come out firing and I think today we played the way they wanted to, we didn't really play our game style" Magpies wing defence Ash Brazill told Channel Nine.
The Magpies won the opening bonus point with a 12-11 first quarter as the Giants struggled to connect with Bassett, relying on their defensive unit (six gains and four intercepts) to keep them in it.
The home side grabbed an early second-quarter lead with the opening two goals but Collingwood countered with the next four as the game continued to see-saw.
But the Magpies struggled to finish under the post as the quarter progressed, Poolman pulling down some key rebounds as the Giants closed with four of the last five goals to take a 26-23 edge into the main break.
The Giants continued to lift after halftime as English goal attack Jo Harten started to make an impact, Bassett capping a 13-goal quarter by putting her team ahead 43-35.
The Giants will shoot for their second victory of the season against the winless Firebirds in Brisbane on Sunday while the Magpies host Adelaide Thunderbirds on Friday night.
