Horjus stars as Adelaide soar in battle of the birds
Sebastian Tan |
Georgie Horjus has outlined why she deserves a starting spot in Australia’s Commonwealth Games team, powering the Adelaide Thunderbirds to a 73-49 Super Netball victory over the Queensland Firebirds.
The 11-cap Australian international has been gunning for a starting berth when the Games kick off in July, although coach Stacey Marinkovich has a plethora of options for the wing attack and goal attack positions.
But on Saturday night Horjus strengthened her case for a spot with the Diamonds by recording 27 feeds and 18 goal assists along with eight goals, before departing in the fourth quarter at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
Sharp shooter Elmere van der Berg (47 goals, four Super Shots) and Kiwi Kate Heffernan (35 feeds, three gains) were also typically inspirational to help the Thunderbirds extend their five-year winning streak against the Firebirds in South Australia.
Adelaide’s victory moves the Thunderbirds (7-1) to the top of the ladder, heaping pressure on the undefeated Melbourne Vixens to beat the Giants on Sunday.
“It was a really nice game. I enjoyed being out there. To be able to take the Super Shots today felt really nice,” van der Berg told Fox Sports.
“(The halftime message was) to keep on grinding and keep on doing the things we do and doing it well.”
The Firebirds were looking to bounce back from a 58-57 loss to the Melbourne Mavericks last round, but a second-half blowout cruelled their chances.
Victory would have boosted finals hopes for the Firebirds (2-6) and moved them within one win of the fourth-placed Mavericks with six rounds remaining.
Dealing with a calf niggle, Te Paea Selby-Rickit was a shining light for the visitors, posting 12 feeds and 13 goals, while midcourter Maddy Gordon registered 32 feeds and 14 goal assists.
“I’m pretty gutted with that,” Firebirds goal keeper Kelly Jackson said.
“When you give a team like that a bit of a sniff, they just run away with it.”
The teams traded goals early, but the Firebirds coughed up a flurry of turnovers and were punished as Adelaide took a three-point lead into quarter-time.
Queensland tightened up after the break, but van der Berg dispatched some late Super Shots to open up a 34-28 halftime buffer.
Adelaide dominated the second half, winning the third quarter 19-11 before running riot in an anticlimactic finish.
AAP