3 minute read
South African duo Karla Pretorius and Phumza Maweni have made the difference in the Sunshine Coast Lightning's Super Netball win over the NSW Swifts.
It took South African intervention to separate two genuine title contenders as imports Karla Pretorius and Phumza Maweni inspired the Sunshine Coast Lightning to a 58-54 Super Netball win against the NSW Swifts.
In another chapter of a building rivalry between the 2019 grand finalists, defenders Pretorius and Maweni snared intercepts in the dying seconds to hold off the determined Swifts at USC Stadium.
There were heroes everywhere for the Lightning, including Mahalia Cassidy and shooting pair Kara Koenen (39 goals at 90 per cent accuracy) and Steph Wood (15 goals, 20 feeds).
They will be most thankful for player of the match Pretorius and her circle partner Maweni, whose combined 14 gains made the difference as the Sunshine Coast moved into second place on the ladder.
"I could go on and on about Phumza," Lightning skipper Pretorius said.
"She was magnificent and, I always want to give (the attention) to someone else, but she deserved it today.
"I feel like the defensive effort was much better than last week."
Missing midcourt star Maddy Proud to a foot injury, the Swifts still had their chances to steal a valuable away win.
Paige Hadley and Maddy Turner grabbed intercepts in the final term but were ultimately trumped by a steadier unit.
The Swifts' England international Helen Housby was contained to 12 goals, while her partner Sam Wallace contributed most of the scoring load with 37 goals at 92 per cent.
This was a premium quality showdown between two expertly coached outfits.
With barely a handful of turnovers between them in the first quarter, both sides were aware a loose pass, deflection or rebound could prove critical.
The rivalry was no more intense than at centre where Cassidy's gut-busting duel with Swift Hadley was a soaring highlight.
In the second quarter alone, Cassidy had 14 circle feeds, but more importantly pocketed an intercept and a deflection in defence to help the Lightning trim the deficit to one goal at halftime.
Cassidy's energy was infectious, with teammates Pretorius and Maweni poaching a combined five gains as the Lightning inched their way to a narrow lead in the third quarter.
