Queensland Firebirds v Melbourne Vixens

It was deja vu for the Firebirds as they once again suffered defeat due to a goal in the closing seconds of the match. 

The Vixens took a 58-57 win and one bonus point as maintain their spot in the top four with only four rounds left. 

It also makes it the Vixens fourth straight win.

The Firebirds had not lost at home all season but after drawing the opening quarter before going down by as many as seven goals in the second it was going to be a claim to get back into the contest. 

They came back and were within a point by the time they went into the final quarter but the composure down the stretch had become an issue for the side.

"I think we just freeze under pressure situations," Laura Geitz said. 

West Coast Fever v Sunshine Coast Lightning

Fever has held off the Lightning 59-58 in a fast and physical clash.

 

Waking up with that W! 😀 #gotgrit

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There was less than four minutes left when Lightning coach Noeline Taurua caused havoc with a number of changes with Madeline McAuliffe coming on at centre, Laura Scherian moving from centre to wing attack and Erena Mikaere brought in at wing defence.

With one minute on the clock, the Fever led by just one goal and managed to ice the game despite furious Lightning defensive pressure.

“We were slow to get out of the blocks and I think it showed that if we hung in there, not playing our style, when we actually kick it into gear we can really put our foot down," Fever coach Stacey Marinkovich said.

“I think we’ve still got a few games to go to seal finals, but I think if you can play in that sort of environment, it shows we’ve got a really good fortress here and to be able to do that away and back it up again here, it wasn’t just a one-off,” she said.

Jhanielle Fowler was copping plenty of knocks in the game but was once again instrumental in the sides win scoring 50 goals.

Adelaide Thunderbirds v Collingwood

It looked as though, there was going to be an upset for Collingwood as the Thunderbirds lead by two goals at halftime. 

But Collingwood kept their slim chances at finals alive as they fought their way back into the match in the final term to seal a 58-48 win.

The Magpies had a disjointed start to the match but were able to bring it back in the last two-quarters of the match, winning the two bonus points along the way.

Adelaide was dealt a blow with Kaitlyn Bryce sidelined with an apparent minor knee complaint.

Giants Netball v NSW Swifts

The Giants are not giving up their minor premiership hopes as they are now within four points of taking top spot from Fever after a 66-56 win against Swifts.

The Giants finished with seven intercepts in telling stats that highlighted their defensive pressure throughout the match.

Employing a lockdown brand of one-on-one defence, the Giants were able to suffocate the Swifts.

The Swifts changed the game plan after the break, with players peeling off into space and pass beginning to stick and while it brought the margin back to just four goals, the Giants front court of Jo Harten and Susan Pettitt were finding space at will and nailing goals from long range to blow the lead out.

The Swifts needed something, and they engineered it through a 5-1 run before speed in the mid-court helped them to find gaps as they won the bonus point for the third quarter

A string of late turnovers though, handed the momentum back to the Giants who closed out the match.