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The Collingwood Magpies have certified for the Tremendous Netball semi-finals in dramatic trend after holding on to their top-four place regardless of a 56-54 defeat to the Melbourne Vixens.
Key factors:
- Collingwood will play the Giants in a semi-final subsequent weekend
- The Magpies misplaced to the Vixens by two objectives, however nonetheless snuck by means of forward of the Swifts on share
- The Magpies had been lacking various key gamers and their coach as a consequence of COVID
Needing a victory or slim loss to complete fourth forward of defending champions NSW Swifts, the Magpies trailed by two objectives within the dying seconds of Monday’s derby conflict at John Cain Enviornment with Vixens shooter Mwai Kumwenda lining up a two-point shot that may have eradicated them from the finals.
However Kumwenda’s lengthy shot missed the mark because the siren sounded, with Collingwood gamers and employees desperately ready for affirmation that they’d be making their first finals look because the 2019 season.
“I seemed on the outcomes and I believed it was two [goals] and we had been performed, then I noticed Kelsey [Browne’s] face as she was like ‘no, we have performed it’ after which that was it. Feelings? Gone,” Geva Mentor informed Fox Netball.
Collingwood will head to Sydney to tackle the Giants in subsequent Sunday’s minor semi-final whereas Melbourne will host West Coast Fever in Saturday night time’s main semi-final.
The Magpies had been rocked on the eve of their season-defining conflict with co-captain Ash Brazill and defender Jodi-Ann Ward pressured to affix Maggie Lind and head coach Nicole Richardson on the sidelines as a consequence of well being and security protocols.
The lack of Ward prompted the Magpies handy retired Australian Diamonds defender Renae Ingles a shock return to aggressive netball, the 35-year-old becoming a member of the squad to face her former Vixens teammates after three years out of the sport.
Melbourne held a slim 16-15 lead after one quarter with Magpies debutant Casey Adamson making a powerful begin to her nationwide league profession in her match-up with present Diamonds captain Liz Watson.
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With the Vixens beginning to acquire the ascendancy, Magpies caretaker coach Kate Upton launched Ingles halfway by means of the second quarter however the minor premiers remained poised to increase their benefit 32-27 at half-time.
Collingwood’s finals hopes gave the impression to be slipping away once they fell behind by 10 objectives within the third quarter however the Magpies levelled the rating with an 11-4 begin to the fourth quarter, because of the tireless work of mid-courter Browne and clean ending from shooter Shimona Nelson.
Whereas happy to outlive an intense end to report a seventh win on the trot, Vixens co-captain Watson is aware of her squad can not afford one other fade-out in opposition to the Fever within the grand closing qualifier.
“It is a actually fast turnaround, so we’re actually centered for that match and we need to go into these finals actually sturdy, and be right here at house hopefully we are able to get the win,” Watson stated.
AAP
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