GIANTS V LIGHTNING
LAST TIME THEY MET If the Suncorp Super Netball preliminary final between GIANTS Netball and the Sunshine Coast Lightning is anything like their last clash in Round 8, hold onto your hats. A one-sided start, a dogged comeback, a goalfor-goal final-quarter arm wrestle, a major error of judgement and a goal on the final whistle made for one of the most thrilling games of the season, with the teams fighting out a 53-53 draw. The GIANTS looked like adding a second win over the Lightning to their Round 1 grand final revenge, when they piled on the goals in the first half to establish an eight-goal lead. But the Lightning grafted their way back into the contest, tying the scores late in the third quarter and then trading blows with the GIANTS throughout the final 15 minutes.
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When Jo Harten netted a goal to put her side ahead 52-51 inside the last two minutes and the GIANTS then forced a turnover from the Lightning, they looked to ice the game by playing the ball around to maintain possession. But the tactic backfired spectacularly when they coughed up possession and the Lightning made them pay, tying proceedings once more. Harten scored again from the next centre pass to give the GIANTS a one-goal edge, leaving the Lightning with 10 seconds to make one more charge. A last-ditch lob to Lightning goal shooter Caitlin Bassett drew a contact, allowing the Samsung Diamonds captain to net the leveller after the final whistle to put an exclamation mark on one of the games of the season.
