As we reach the final stages of the competition, 10 teams descended on Morayfield Sports and Events Centre on Kabi Kabi Country for the ANC semi finals on Saturday.
The Fury were challenged by a dogged GIANTS outfit in a see-sawing affair, but the Victorians managed to hold their nerve in the final quarter to claim a four-goal victory.
Q1 | Fury 14 – 10 GIANTS
A turnover from the GIANTS’ first centre pass gave Fury the opportunity to break away early, and Claudia Mawson was sure to consolidate that chance. Each team’s defensive pressure was relentless, often leading to turnovers in the respective goal thirds. Amy Sligar was a standout for the GIANTS in centre, consistently finding space to keep the ball moving.
Maggie Caris was a pillar for Fury, continuing her dominant presence in goal keeper. The GIANTS broke back later in the quarter to level the scores but the Fury weren’t to be denied a first quarter lead, taking advantage of a few late errors from the GIANTS to hold a four-goal lead at the first break.
Q2 | Fury 24 – 26 GIANTS
Emily Andrew and Claudia Mawson continued to share the shooting load, with Mawson shooting at 100% accuracy in the first half. The height of GIANTS’ goaler Millie Roach proved a challenge for Caris and Sharni Lambden, the Fury captain using some creative footwork to disrupt the connection between Roach and goal attack Ang Frketic.
Momentum was with the GIANTS early in the second quarter, the team in orange reducing the deficit to two goals in the first five minutes of play. Fury replacement player Isabella Hodgson came onto court and injected her pace and movement into the goal circle, while Sussu Liai showed her skills around circle edge in wing defence. But the GIANTS managed to get the edge over the Victorians in the last few minutes, taking a two-goal lead at half time.
Q3 | Fury 41 – 36 GIANTS
The second half began with the same intensity of the first, with each team breaking the other’s centre pass. Ruby Shannon continued to impress in the midcourt, as the Fury utilised short drives and kept the ball out of the air to escape the long arms of their opponents.
Jemma Donoghue worked hard to make life difficult for Andrew, but the stalwart shooter held her own under the post. Lambden was a workhorse in goal defence, claiming a crucial rebound and sending the ball down the Fury’s end to steal back some of the GIANTS’ momentum. Georgia Moody and Tepaea Hobson came onto court and made an immediate impact at both ends of the court, and the Fury pushed out to a five-goal lead with a quarter to play.
Q4 | Fury 53 – 49 GIANTS
Fury kept their cool to start the final quarter, Zara Walters feeding the ball beautifully to find the safe hands of her goalers. An intercept and some successive turnovers from the Fury saw the GIANTS claw their way back into the match, the scores level yet again halfway through the quarter.
Going goal for goal with five minutes remaining, Fury’s midcourt showcased their smooth connections, threading the ball expertly through the corridor. A crucial turnover from the GIANTS gave the Victorians a chance to snatch back their lead, and Andrew made sure to convert. Despite a late charge from the GIANTS, Fury held onto their lead to claim a four-goal victory.
BY THE NUMBERS
Claudia Mawson was impressive in both goal attack and wing attack, shooting at 93% accuracy and amassing 11 goal assists and 20 feeds, while Zara Walters played a dominant feeding role, racking up a game-high 27 goal assists and 45 feeds.
UP NEXT
Fury will take on Sunshine Coast Lightning Bolts in their last ANC match on Sunday in a battle to claim fifth position in the final standings.
HOW TO WATCH
Watch every match live and free on Kayo Freebies
View the full fixture
