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Sunshine Coast Lightning's big three made a defining statement in their side's 56-50 Super Netball win against the Adelaide Thunderbirds. The performances of internationals Karla Pretorius, Laura Langman and Steph Wood suggested the trio is not yet ready to give up on the club's pursuit of a fourth consecutive grand final appearance. Pretorius, with her lightning hands and ability to create doubt in opponents was outstanding all game while Langman and Wood lifted in the second half to steady the Lightning after two consecutive losses. Pretorius' experience and ruthlessness shut down exciting young Thunderbirds goaler Georgie Horjus at Brisbane's Nissan Arena. "She's a great young player. Those youngsters play with a lot of freedom so I felt I needed to step up," Pretorius said. The result ensured Sunshine Coast remained in touch with the Melbourne Vixens and NSW Swifts. Later Wednesday, West Coast Fever secured their first win against the Queensland Firebirds in five years but the victory has been soured by a knee injury to Ingrid Colyer. The Fever's 71-60 Super Netball victory at Brisbane's Nissan Arena lifted the finals chances of the fourth-placed West Australians who are now two wins clear of the Giants and Adelaide Thunderbirds. It should have been a moment to savour but their hearts were with teammate Colyer who wailed in pain as she fell to the court with her team in charge in the third quarter. After working her way into the battle, the midcourt spark's night ended abruptly after landing awkwardly in an aerial contest with Firebird Tippah Dwan. "Once Ingrid came out we knew we had to play hard," Fever goal shooter Jhaniele Fowler said. "It was in the back of our minds that maybe something was wrong but we had to play four quarters just the same. "We pray everything will be OK." The Firebirds defenders have been brilliant this season but had few answers in their mission to halt Fever spearhead Fowler (63 goals at 97 per cent) Firebird Romelda Aiken's fine season continued with a 45-goal haul.
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