Lethal Lightning strike extends netball derby dominance
Steve Barrett |
Sunshine Coast Lightning have consolidated their spot in the Super Netball top four and maintained their derby stranglehold with a 72-62 win over the Queensland Firebirds.
Cara Koenen buried 54 goals without a miss at Nissan Arena in Brisbane on Saturday night, combining superbly with wing attack Liz Watson to put the Firebirds’ defence under constant pressure.
The victory was the Lightning’s seventh in a row against Queensland and improved their overall head-to-head dominance to 15-4 with one draw.
“I’ve finally sorted out the ones under the post, thankfully,” Koenen laughed after her flawless performance.
“Our ball speed is what kills defence ends.
“I’m very happy to work my way out the front, but I’ve also got some awesome playmakers in Liz and Steph (Fretwell).”
With Koenen and Watson firing in attack and gun stopper Courtney Bruce, in her 150th game, rampant at the other end, Sunshine Coast looked like taking control from the outset as the Firebirds became turnover- and penalty-plagued.
Macy Garnder led a 6-1 Queensland recovery to pinch the lead, before Fretwell’s super shot on the quarter-time siren gave the Lightning an 18-17 edge.
Koenen and Watson’s peerless connection, combined with Leesa Mi Mi’s playmaking out of the centre, saw the visitors increase their lead to 37-33 at the half.
The Firebirds unravelled in the third term, misfiring badly in attack, bossed through the middle and out of answers for Koenen, who hit 17 more goals.
They were outscored 20-13 for the period to trail 57-46 with a quarter to play.
Goaler Mary Cholhok (24 goals from 25 shots) inspired Queensland to a 7-2 start to the fourth and the Firebirds, seeking to snap a six-game losing streak, could sniff an upset as the margin closed to seven.
But the Lightning rallied once more, Bruce’s rejection of Emily Moore’s two-pointer late leading to Koenen’s 54th straight goal on the full-time bell.
AAP
