Phoenix move into Grand Final after 10-goal defeat of Matrics

Health and Life Phoenix will have the hardest task of the 2012 Subway Cup after they defeated Contours Matrics, 62-52, in the preliminary final last Friday night at Netball SA Stadium.

The task of defeating the ETSA Contax is a task no team has been able to achieve all season and Phoenix coach LeeAnne Cummins is certainly aware of what it will take to steal the 2012 premiership.

“We need to bring that same intensity we brought tonight, we need to force them into making errors whilst making good decisions for ourselves, and just valuing the ball every time we’ve got it, because they’re not going to give it to you very often.” Cummins said.

The last three matches have been very close for the Phoenix but those close matches have put them on the right path for finals netball. A disappointed Matrics coach, Jacqui Illman, suggested Phoenix were peaking at the right time.

“I think Phoenix played exceptionally well tonight, that’s the best that I’ve seen them play all year and they were obviously better than us on the night.”  Illman said.

It was a highly anticipated match-up for the preliminary final and Phoenix had not beaten the Matrics during the minor rounds. It was looking like the same result may occur with Matrics getting a good start early in the first quarter.

Matrics GS Cody Lange was looking in good form scoring three quick goals for her side and benefitting from some sharp Matrics attack. But, the Phoenix attackers soon settled into a nice rhythm and with GS Kylie Jarrett looking particularly strong soon evened the scores, then took the lead late in the quarter.

Phoenix began to control the pace of the match in the second quarter, often slowing the play down and restoring their composure. These tactics were working for the side as they moved out to a 5-goal lead mid-quarter.

Some good late play from the Matrics saw them cut the Phoenix lead down to 1 goal at half time and with a few more seconds may have even leveled the scores, but the half-time whistle kept the Phoenix in front.

The Matrics needed to match the consistency of the Phoenix if they were to have any chance of taking the lead and they started well with the first goal of the quarter. This leveled the scores but costly mistakes were hurting the Matrics.

Phoenix stole back momentum after a Matrics centre pass break, and quickly moved out to a 4-goal lead just 3 minutes into the quarter. Excellent work in defence from Phoenix GK Dalice Kennedy and GD Nadia Mapunda was starting to takes its toll, as Phoenix went to the final break with a 7-goal lead.

After trailing by 9 goals early in the final quarter Matrics managed a mini comeback to cut the lead to 5 goals with 9 minutes remaining. After some good transitional play it looked like the match was headed for an intense finish.

However, the Phoenix regained composure to establish a 10-goal lead with just 4 minutes remaining, ultimately ending any chance of a Matrics win.

It was a strong performance from the Phoenix who dominated key areas of play to help them reach the 2012 Subway Cup Grand Final. Their rebounding was superb at both ends of the court and their work ethic through the middle of the court forced turnovers from the Matrics.

The combination between shooters, Kylie Jarrett and Mel Rowland, has also grown and has been a noticeable asset to the side as coach LeeAnne Cummins discussed.

“Obviously it’s been hard with Mel Rowland being in and out throughout the year and also she’s been able to train with us since the Thunderbirds finished so just that consistency of being able to work together is seeing the benefit out on the court.” She said.

“Tonight the girls were really focused on what they had to do and really determined to make sure that they made every post a winner and right from that first whistle their heads were in the game.

“I thought that it looked like they (Matrics) were under more pressure than they had been all year so therefore their decision making was sort of questionable and we forced them into errors which was great work.”

After a strong season wrapping up second place on the ladder, the Matrics were understandably disappointed. But after a tough loss, Coach Jacqui Illman was still proud of her side’s effort throughout the year.

“We targeted a grand final spot and we thought that on our day we could win it but obviously Phoenix were better than us today.”

“Extremely proud of the girls, I mean we won it last year and we lost an enormous amount of defenders in particular after that win. We did struggle for depth in that area and we did have a few injuries in that area again throughout the year. I thought we really responded well and I was pleased with a lot of the netball that we put out on the park this year.”

Health and Life Phoenix defeat The Royal Cougars, 60-58 in extra-time thriller

It was a match that showcased everything the sport of Netball has to offer and a match that only two teams desperate to keep their premiership hopes alive could provide.

Health and Life Phoenix eventually came out the winners defeating The Royal Cougars in the second half of extra time, 60-58, at Netball SA Stadium on Thursday night but it was a match neither side deserved to lose.

A relieved Phoenix coach, Lee-Anne Cummins paid tribute to both sides after such an intense encounter.

“It’s an awesome way to win but it’s a really horrible way to lose, so it’s always good if you’re the winning end of that.” Cummins said.

“All fourteen girls on the court gave everything they had and it was a great spectacle.”

The nerves were obvious as both sides tried to work into the game through steady game play and both sides took advantage of turnover ball. The lead changed throughout the first quarter as the two teams took risks, throwing long searching passes down the court.

However, turnovers in the goal circle were hurting the Cougars. With a much easier passage, Phoenix took a 3-goal advantage into the quarter time break.

After some good defensive work from GD Nadia Mapunda, the Phoenix got a much better start in the second quarter. They dominated the early minutes to take a 5-goal lead. But just when it looked as though they would break away, the Cougars fought back to cut the lead to 2 goals.

This pattern continued for much of the quarter with the Phoenix leading by 6 goals at one stage but through determination the Cougars ensured the lead would be a slender one. At halftime the Phoenix led by 2.

As the third quarter began, the intensity on the court lifted and the crowd could sense the closeness of the match. They were right. Once again the lead changed throughout the third quarter as neither side could dominate the other.

The Cougars movement around the attacking third had improved allowing GS Jess Roberts more space in the circle. In an exciting quarter the Cougars led into a break for the first time in the match. The lead was just 1-goal heading into the final quarter.

The Cougars kept up their moment to stat the final quarter moving out to a 5-goal lead, their biggest of the match, and looked reasonably comfortable with 10 minutes to go. However, one missed shot was all it took for the Phoenix to get back in the game.

With 5 minutes to go the Phoenix leveled the scores through Mel Rowland. The deadlock could not be broken until Jess Roberts looked to have won the game for Cougars on the final whistle. The shot was ruled to be too late, however, and so after four quarters the scores were all square at 50 a piece.

Although there had been three draws during the minor rounds this match produced the first extra-time of the season, testing the players nerves and composure even further.

Once again, the first seven minutes of extra-time was extremely intense as the two teams went goal for goal on centre pass.  Experience counted for everything and this showed with Phoenix GK Dalice Kennedy and Mapunda looking to force turnovers.

Leigh Waddington was also dangerous in the mid-court for the Cougars and steadied the Cougars. Nothing could separate the two sides after the first seven minutes of extra-time. The scores 54 all.

With scores again going on centre pass to start the final 7 minutes of extra-time it seemed that the match could still be going into the early hours of Friday morning.

Phoenix finally broke the centre pass scoring to take a 2-goal lead with only a few minutes remaining. The Cougars were not giving up but when they lost possession with less then a minute remaining the task became too large. Phoenix holding on to win by 2-goals in an exhilarating performance from both teams.

Phoenix coach Lee-Anne Cummins will again be looking for a good start from her side when they take on Contours Matrics in the preliminary final.

“We really focused during the week about getting off to a good start. Cougars would have been on a high after beating Woods last week to secure that final spot, so we knew we had to get on top early to try and snuff their confidence.” She said.

“The game last week (a draw against Spring Gully Newton Jaguars), whilst we would’ve liked to win, was actually a good one because should we be in that situation again we’d had that bit of pressure so I think it did work in our favour.

“The experience of some of our senior players, Dalice and Ed (Edwina Gosse) really helped steady the ship.”

In the major semi-final ETSA Contax became the first team through to the 2012 Subway Cup Grand Final in a comprehensive victory over Contours Matrics. A result that not many people would have picked, the undefeated Contax won by 23 goals.