Nelson propels Magpies into semi-finals

MELBOURNE, Australia (CMC):

Exciting Sunshine Girls shooter Shimona Nelson produced yet another outstanding performance as her Collingwood Magpies defeated Melbourne Vixens 58-47 to squeeze into the semi-finals of the Australian Super Netball League on Sunday.

The encounter at Melbourne Arena was close until half-time, when Magpies led 28-25, but they turned the screws in the third quarter, outscoring the hosts 17-9 to open up what proved to be an unassailable advantage.

Nelson was at the heart of the Magpies victory, scoring 42 goals from 47 attempts at goalshooter. With her 29th goal, the 20-year-old Jamaican notched her 1,000th goal in the Aussie League.

Goal attack Natalie Medhurst supported with 16 from 17 as the Magpies claimed the crucial bonus point on offer to end on 59 points from their full complement of 14 matches.

Giants Netball also finished on 59 points but ended in fifth, missing out on the semis by virtue of an inferior overall record.

Vixens, on 63 points, entered the contest already assured of a place in the final four.

They were led by Caitlin Thwaites, who scored 21 from 23 attempts, alternating between goal attack and goalshooter, while Tegan Philip finished with 21 from 25 at goal attack.

Ironically, both teams will now meet again in the second semi-final next Sunday at the State Netball and Hockey Centre here in Melbourne.

Meanwhile, Trinidadian Samantha Wallace was also outstanding as New South Wales Swifts celebrated their semi-final spot with a 64-63 win over bottom-of-the-table Queensland Firebirds on Saturday.

Playing at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney’s Olympic Park, the winners rebounded from a 30-33 half-time deficit to dominate the third quarter and secure victory by a point.

Wallace was at the forefront for Swifts, knocking down 43 from 45 attempts at goalshooter while Helen Housby supported with 16 from 18 attempts.

For the losers, seasoned Jamaican international Romelda Aiken netted 30 from 35 attempts, with Gretel Tippett leading the scoring with 33 from 35 attempts.

Swifts, who finished second in the standings on 78 points, will take on Sunshine Coast Lightning in Saturday’s first semi-final at USC Stadium after the leaders capped off a fine league season with a 58-37 win over Adelaide Thunderbirds.

At the same venue, another veteran Sunshine Girl, Jhaniele Fowler-Reid, continued her prolific scoring, but it was not enough to prevent West Coast Fever from suffering their sixth loss of the season in a 70-60 defeat to Giants.

Fowler-Reid scored 50 from 52 attempts as Fever kept pace with Giants in the first quarter at 17-all but then lost their way in the second quarter when they were blown away 21-11.

Caitlin Bassett led the scoring for the winners with 47 goals from 50 attempts.

Fever finished sixth in the eight-team table on 32 points.