In what was one of three Round 12 Saturday night games played at Nissan Arena, the fifth-placed Thunder managed to steal victory from the Bull Sharks with less than five minutes left on the clock.
“We were always one or two down,” Thunder coach Simone Nalatu said.
“It got to even but we could never get in front until around the last three minutes, and we held on.”
Nalatu said it was the first time she’d had her 11 original players at the same court, although injury and Suncorp Super Netball commitments meant not everyone was eligible to play.
“Our consistency has been the biggest barrier or challenge, having different players available at different times,” she said.
“We’re giving everything we have but we won’t be happy until we make the top four. It’ll come down to the last round really, which is great for the competition but not great for the coach.”
The Thunder’s obvious rivals for that all-important fourth position on the ladder are the Carina Leagues Club Tigers who, on Saturday night, went down to the Gold Coast Titans by a single goal (45-46).
The Tigers currently lay claim to fourth, and a future finals spot, however must win their remaining two regular games to extend their season beyond round 14.
“We still need to get there and we need to get another win under our belt and not rely on Thunder,” Tigers coach Jo Morgan said.
“The girls deserve a finals appearance with the hard work, improvement and shift in culture the team has made this year, but then every coach believes their team should be in finals.”
The Titans recorded victory over the Tigers without starting players Josie Bingham and Kourtnee Baird, both being late withdrawals due to injury.
It was a battle of the midcourt when the TAE Aerospace Ipswich Jets took on the ACU Brisbane North Cougars, with Jets captain Hulita Veve matching up against Cougars captain Leesa Mi Mi.
Both players have been called up to Suncorp Super Netball duties with the Queensland Firebirds this year, and are crucial to their respective HART Sapphire Series team’s success.
Veve’s Jets grinded out a tough 60 minutes to secure a second win (70-63) this season over their rivals, and guarantee themselves a top two spot before semis.
“Cougars have been on the rise, and we were expecting a strong game again,” Jets coach Paula Stuart said.
“Chloe Litherland and Hulita were my two MVPs of the match, and were nothing but absolutely amazing.”
In more good news for the Jets, defender Lily Gribble is expected to return from injury for next weekend’s round 13 game against the Thunder.
For the HART Sapphire Series fixture, results and ladder, please click here.
