The Sunshine Girls trio of Latanya Wilson, Romelda Aiken-George, and Shamera Sterling-Humphrey are in a celebratory mood after the Adelaide Thunderbirds achieved what only one other club has in the Suncorp Super Netball era… back-to-back premiership titles.
The home side managed to ward off a fast-starting Melbourne Vixens outfit to come away 59-57 winners in front of an electric sold out crowd at Adelaide Entertainment Centre. It marks the third consecutive year the Grand Final has sold out.
It was once again a Jamaican masterclass with Sterling-Humphrey and Wilson’s relentless defense, and Aiken-George at the other end leading their side to victory.
Sterling-Humphrey and Wilson did what they do best. And while they didn’t reach their usual heights on the stats sheet, they wore down the Vixens attack after their Melbourne-based opposition started in red hot form.
The duo combined for six gains while Aiken-George was named the grand final MVP for her stellar performance, shooting 42/51.
Leading the charge for the Vixens was Origin Diamond Kiera Austin who finished with 21/24 goals and 7/7 from the super shot zone.
You couldn’t split the pair at half-time with both teams entering the match at 28 apiece after the Vixens had taken a 16-13 lead at the end of the first period. An even third quarter saw Adelaide scoring 14 goals to Melbourne’s 13 to leave the scores 42-41 in favour of the Thunderbirds.
It was an epic performance from the home side who managed to win back-to-back titles for the first time in 25 years, leaving a legacy on the South Australian state.
