By Alexander Dabb
The opening Suncorp Super Netball game of Round 12’s First Nations Round between the Sunshine Coast Lightning and GIANTS saw two sides at vastly different points of the season do battle at UniSC Arena, but there was still plenty on the line for both.
The Lightning entered the game with the season on the line, needing everything to go right from this point if they are to make the top four, while the GIANTS were battling to find a maiden win of the season, with their chances to do so quickly whittling down.
In the end, the contest belonged to the home side, with the Lightning making light work of the visitors in a lopsided 74-54 victory which saw all of the top talents fire.
It was the GIANTS that made the hot start to the contest, though, scoring off the opening centre pass of the game before an Erin O’Brien deflection off the ensuing Lightning attack saw the visitors get the first break of the game to lead 2-0.
Courtney Bruce was able to get the Lightning back on level terms soon enough though, as she registered a block on GIANTS shooter Matisse Letherbarrow, which was sent down the other end with ease to level things up after a frenetic start.
While the GIANTS had started with venom, putting plenty of speed on the ball and challenging the Lightning through the midcourt, the home side slowly but surely began to control proceedings.
In the blink of an eye, the Lightning opened up a 17-9 advantage off the back of a nine-goal run, with Karin Burger and Ash Ervin heavily involved as they made life for the GIANTS’ goalers incredibly difficult.
But the visitors have been lethal from range all season, and Letherbarrow again provided the spark from her side with the first Suncorp Super Shot of the contest, either side of a single, breaking the Lightning’s stranglehold on the game.
Donnell Wallam was superb with a game-high 47 goals.
The late flurry from the visitors saw them close back in to just four goals behind at the first break, down 14-18, as they managed to stay in touch despite the Lightning’s dominance.
While the home side showed a glimpse of their power in the first term, they turned it on fully in the second, blowing the game to bits in a destructive display.
It was Donnell Wallam that led the way, proving a formidable force inside the circle to shoot a massive 19 points for the term, and 31 for the first half.
Leesa Mi Mi won the battle against Amy Sligar in the midcourt, notching 11 feeds for the term, while Burger was phenomenal, earning two intercepts in her seven minutes of play and giving up just one penalty, seemingly changing the entire shape of the contest.
Flexing their muscle, the Lightning recorded a 22-9 term, and led 40-23 at the half, as the GIANTS were left searching for answers.
The visitors came out a much more competitive side in the third term, matching the Lightning goal-for-goal for the majority of the quarter, with both sides having scored 12 points as the clock showed two minutes remaining.
A small lapse from the GIANTS though saw the Lightning able to extend the margin once again, with both Wallam and Gabby Sincalir sinking Suncorp Super Shots, and Wallam adding another single, to push the advantage out to 22 at the final change, the home side ahead 57-35.
The stats were telling at that point too, with the GIANTS sitting at a lowly 57 per cent centre pass to goal rate, compared to the Lightning’s 81 per cent conversion, while the visitors’ gain to goal percentage was just 43 through three quarters, opposed to the Lightning’s percentage of 75.
Lightning captain Liz Watson was instrumental through the midcourt.
The game was all but over as the final term got underway, but the GIANTS managed to finish the contest on a positive note, outscoring the home side 19-17 to win the final term and eat into the margin somewhat.
But it mattered little in terms of the overall result, with Lightning recording a mammoth 74-54 victory to ensure they keep their slim finals chances alive heading into the final two games of the year.
74 points is also the top score of the season for Lightning, 47 of which came from the hand of MVP Wallam, who racked up 85 net points in the process.
Watson was superb too as the highest rated player on court, earning 89.5 net points and 11 goal assists from 22 feeds, as well as two deflections, while Ervin notched seven gains in an 88 net point performance.
Casey Adamson was the GIANTS’ highest rated player in the loss, earning 50.5 net points in what was a lively and often physical battle with Watson at the centre position.
The win ensures the Lightning remain a chance of a top four finish, and will give them plenty of momentum as they head into the Queensland derby against the Firebirds next Saturday night.
The GIANTS will head back home to host the Fever on Sunday evening, as they continue to hunt for their first win of their 2026 campaign.
