NSW Swifts v Melbourne Vixens

A resurgent Vixens swamped the Swifts 65-58 in their clash on Saturday to consolidate their place in the top four.

The win was the Vixens' third in a row but it was the Swifts first home loss of the season.
Both sides were dealt injury blows during the week, with the Vixens losing goalkeeper Emily Mannix to a dislocated finger while the Swifts will have to play out their season without Claire O'Brien who ruptured her Achilles tendon.

It was a poor first half from the Swifts, with Head Coach Briony Akle labeling the team’s worst half of netball so far this year.

“I’m pretty disappointed with the way we played in that opening half which was easily the poorest I’ve ever seen us,” Akle said.

“While we shot very well (95%) we didn’t take any of the chances that came our way on turnover possession," she added.

Magpies Netball v West Coast Fever

The West Coast Fever have taken a major step towards claiming the minor premiership with a comprehensive 70-57 win over the Collingwood Magpies.

The Magpies were looking to keep their finals hopes alive but the Fever were too clinical, too strong defensively and star shooter Jhanielle Fowler was too dominant.

The Fever was able to bounce back from a loss to Vixen last week. 

“We knew we had to find another level, so it was really good to put out that performance,” Head Coach Stacey Marinkovich said.

“With the control of using our back defenders and just keeping possession, that’s what it was about,” she said.

Sunshine Coast Lightning v Queensland Firebirds

After a thrilling draw with GIANTS Netball last week, captain Caitlin Bassett wanted to ensure that didn't happen again with a final second goal to lift the Lightning over the Firebirds 58-57.

It was a win that closed the gap between the two sides on the ladder with Lightning just one point away from the top four. 

The Firebirds won the two opening quarters and led by as many as four goals in the second half.

Even in the final minutes, the Lightning watched as a five-goal advantage was eroded away with Firebirds goal shooter Romelda Aiken locking the scores up in the final 60 seconds.

Lightning held their nerve, though, moving the ball around, starving Queensland of the ball and ultimately finding Bassett to score the match-winner with only one second remaining on the clock.

GIANTS Netball v Adelaide Thunderbirds

The Giants are within striking distance of the top spot with 63-44 win over the Thunderbirds as they secured all eight points available.
 
The Giants sit just four points behind Fever and four points above their nearest challenger, the Vixens.

The Thunderbirds came into the match following the mid-week announcement that coach Dan Ryan will not be there next season while the Giants lost captain Kim Green to a calf injury during the week and was rested for this encounter as a precautionary measure.

There was an array of injuries throughout the match with Giants players Sam Poolman and Serena Guthrie sidelined, the latter with a nasty head injury, and Jo Harten came off late in the game with a cramp.