So, like, the last two games of Super Netball round three have been played, ya know? The league decided to split the round across the Easter and ANZAC weekends, which is pretty cool, I guess. On Saturday, the Sunshine Coast Lightning totally dominated the Firebirds in the Queensland derby, winning 64-50. That’s six wins in a row for the Lightning against their state rivals and 13 wins in total out of 18 meetings in league history.
And get this, special guest Robert Irwin made an appearance at UniSC at the start of the night, attending his first Super Netball game just down the road from Australia Zoo. The crowd went wild, but then Cara Koenen stole the spotlight with two epic long bombs in the final minute. It was her 100th milestone game, and she hadn’t sunk a super shot in two years, so it was a pretty big deal.
Then on Sunday, the West Coast Fever snagged their first victory of the season by beating the Melbourne Vixens on their home court at John Cain Arena, with a score of 67-57. Rob Irwin was there too, delivering the match ball. All eyes were on Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard as she made her comeback after a tough miscarriage in January. She was named Player of the Match and totally rocked it.
If you missed the games, don’t stress, I got you covered with a Super Netball Round-Up. Fowler-Nembhard totally killed it in her return, bringing some much-needed energy to the Fever. The team had been struggling in the first two weeks of the season, but with her back in action, things are looking up. The loss of defender Ruth Aryang was a blow, but her sister Sunday is expected back for round four.
Fowler-Nembhard’s performance was not just about the win, but about how she felt being back on the court. Her coach Dan Ryan was stoked with her calm and composed attitude, and the team definitely missed her leadership. The defensive duo of Fran Williams and Kadie-Ann Dehaney were also on fire, making big plays throughout the game.
As for Koenen, she finally nailed some super shots in her 100th game, silencing the critics. The rule change introducing the two-point shot has been a challenge for her, but she’s starting to get the hang of it. Her confidence seems to be back, and it’s clear that her team has her back all the way. She even plans to give her milestone dress to her parents as a thank you for their support.
All in all, it was a pretty epic weekend for Super Netball, with some standout performances and unexpected victories. The league is heating up, and it’s anyone’s game at this point. Can’t wait to see what the rest of the season has in store!