Lightning aiming to end curse

Semi serious for Sunshine Coast

NETBALL: Sunshine Coast Lightning have more records and targets in sight and are determined to end Super Netball’s minor premiers’ curse today against NSW Swifts.

The two-time defending champions will host a major semi-final for the first time and a victory at USC Stadium in Sippy Downs will give them an outright competition record of nine consecutive wins.

They have already set records for most regular-season wins (12) and most points (81).

One record they would definitely be happy to smash is the one which has seen the minor premiers exit without winning a finals match in each of the first two Super Netball seasons.

“We’ve spoken about it and joked about it and we’re taking it on,” Lightning coach Noeline Taurua said.

“We love the challenge of being the first team to get through.”

The second-placed Swifts, in the Super Netball finals for the first time, are just as keen for the curse to continue.

Beaten by the Lightning twice this season after leading both games early, the Swifts are determined to maintain their intensity for the full 60 minutes today.

“They just never give up and you know that you could have a fantastic margin and they hunt any team down,” Swifts coach Briony Akle said. “We’ve made concentrated efforts at training just to do the simple things well for extended periods of time, rather than doing well for 50 minutes and then losing it in the last 10.”

Lightning goal defence Karla Pretorius said her team had drawn a lot of confidence from those come-from-behind wins against their finals rivals.