The race for a spot in the gold medal match is heating up as teams from across the country continue to battle it out on court at the Australian Netball Championships
The Victorian Fury made it two in a row after defeating Firebirds Futures by ten goals in a hard-fought contest.
Q1 | Fury 18 – 13 Firebirds
A hot start from the Victorian Fury saw them enjoy a five-goal lead at the end of the first quarter. The sides couldn’t be seperated at the beginning of the match, but Fury made the most of a defensive turnover in the seventh minute to create some space. Emily Andrew had another impressive start with 12 goals, while Maggie Caris’ defensive pressure kept the Firebirds’ goalers on their toes. Leesa Mi Mi was outstanding for Queensland with seven feeds and four goal assists.
Q2 | Fury 36 – 29 Firebirds
The Fury produced another strong quarter to extend their lead to seven goals by half time. Emily Andrew, Claudia Mawson and Lily Graham formed strong partnerships in the circle, while Zara Walters and Taylah Brown combined well in the midcourt. Firebirds’ Abigail Meafou had a solid 15 minutes and stood tall under the post for her side.
Q3 | Fury 54 – 43 Firebirds
The Victorians continued to assert dominance across the court in the third term, further extending their lead to 11 goals going into the final quarter. Goaler Claudia Mawson was strong in both defence and offence, and capped off a phenomenal quarter with a goal in the dying seconds. Queensland’s Lia Woolnough was valiant in wing defence, showcasing her defensive pressure and speed against a strong Fury lineup.
Q4 | Fury 57 – 67 Firebirds
A valiant fourth term from the Firebirds saw the final margin brought back to 10 goals. Lily Graham had a great quarter with multiple long-range goals, while Maggie Caris was a pillar in Fury’s defensive third. Zara Walters was hard to stop in the midcourt and finished the match with an unbelievable 33 centre pass receives. Leesa Mi Mi was impressive throughout the 60 minutes and was one of the Firebirds’ best.
BY THE NUMBERS
Zara Walters had a match to remember with 25 goal assists, 43 feeds and 33 centre pass receives throughout the 60 minutes.
UP NEXT
Fury’s next challenge is West Coast Fever Reserves at 11am AEST on Friday. With two wins apiece, it’s set to be a thrilling contest between the sides.
HOW TO WATCH
Watch every match live and free on Kayo Freebies
View the full fixture
