Mavericks into fourth with thrilling win over Firebirds
Justin Chadwick |
The Melbourne Mavericks have soared into fourth spot on the Super Netball ladder after pulling off a thrilling 58-57 win over the Queensland Firebirds.
In a pulsating match at Nissan Arena on Sunday, scores were locked at 55-55 with less than three minutes remaining as both teams threw everything at the contest.
The defining moment came with less than two minutes left and with the Mavericks clinging to a one-goal lead.
The Firebirds lobbed a long pass into goal shooter Mary Cholhok in the circle.
But with Cholhok’s left hand being wrapped up by Mavericks goal keeper Jessie Grenvold, she wasn’t able to control the incoming pass with only her right hand available.
Cholhok pleaded her case to the umpire after the ball deflected out of bounds, but it fell on deaf ears.
The Mavericks scored the next two goals to open up a three-goal lead, with Cholhok’s Super Shot in the dying seconds only enough to reduce the final margin.
The result lifted the Mavericks (3-4) into fourth on the ladder.
The Firebirds (2-5), who only recently snapped a 15-game losing run, would have soared into fourth themselves with a win, but instead find themselves sixth.
Shimona Nelson was a model of consistency for the Mavericks on the way to 45 goals from 49 attempts, while goal defence Kim Brown tallied three gains and two intercepts.
Cholhok (40 goals from 49 attempts) struggled for accuracy at times, but made up for it by reeling in seven rebounds.
The Mavericks committed a whopping 21 penalties to nine in the opening quarter as the Firebirds came from three goals down to take a 19-16 lead into the first break.
The Super Shot was largely ignored in the first half, with each team only putting up one attempt – and neither of them sinking.
The Mavericks went into three-quarter time holding a slender 45-44 lead, and the desperation to win was clear in the final quarter as the intensity lifted.
Mavericks goalkeeper Charlotte Sexton was forced off with a bloodied nose with less than 10 minutes remaining after copping an accidental elbow to the face.
The visitors held on in a frantic finish, with the win propelling them into the finals mix.
AAP