From glib ads on the pitch and fans lighting up the match with their phones to an eventual abort, the most bizarre Super Netball game of all time
- Court dramas cause the game to be abandoned
- Fans had to light stadium with phones
- Match declared a draw in stunning fashion
The Adelaide Thunderbirds clash with the NSW Swifts was abandoned on Saturday due to technical issues after the most bizarre scenes ever seen in a Super Netball game.
The game was stunningly declared a 25-25 draw after field work and a 20-minute power cut forced an early end to the game.
The drama started before the game when the course was declared unsafe to play on due to slippery decals at Adelaide’s Netball SA Stadium, delaying the game by an hour.
Signage stickers were then removed and the track was washed and polished before the competition was allowed to begin.
As the game got underway, the Swifts led 16-12 at quarter time, but the Thunderbirds fought back to level the scores at 25-25 at the halfway point.
The Adelaide Thunderbirds clash with the NSW Swifts was abandoned on Saturday due to technical issues after the most bizarre scenes ever seen in a Super Netball game
The game was stunningly declared a 25-25 draw after field work and a 20 minute power cut forced an early end to the game
A potentially fascinating battle in the second half failed to materialise, with a blackout preventing the game from resuming and completing on time.
Fans were stunned when the lights went down, with many holding up the flares on their phones to try to keep the venue lit.
Both teams took two points.
Angry fans reacted to the chaotic scenes via social media.
“This is a ridiculous result for a professional sports league,” said one Twitter user.
“This whole situation is nonsense. This is a professional korfball competition. Where are the standards? The players and supporters deserve better.
‘In all those years that I watch korfball. I’ve seen a match canceled due to a power outage. Too bad it wasn’t finished because it looked like a second half blast,” said a third.
It is not clear why the decals were removed so late, as both teams had trained on the field in the 24 hours before the match was played.
It is not clear why the decals were removed so late, as both teams had trained on the field in the 24 hours before the match was played.
Thunderbirds, who won their opening round game, moved to six points, while Swifts collected their first two points of the campaign after losing to Collingwood in the last time out
“It’s just very disappointing and very unfortunate circumstances tonight that a power cut has caught up with us,” Nicole Malcher, head of integrity at Netball Australia, told Fox Sports.
“Earlier today we had to postpone the game (because of the unsafe surface)…we extended it to complete the game in the 120 minutes.
“Because we’ve extended it until then, we don’t have enough time to complete it within the session’s time window (after the power cut), so we have to declare the game half time.”
Thunderbirds, who won their opening round game, moved to six points, while Swifts collected their first two points of the campaign after losing to Collingwood in the last time out.
“It’s very sad to draw and not get a chance to win the game,” Swifts shooter Helen Housby told Fox Sports. “There were some emotions in the dressing room.
“It’s a short season and every point counts, so we know we’re probably missing a few points.”
Adelaide, who lost captain Hannah Petty to a rolled ankle in the first quarter, had the momentum going into half time, beating the visitors 6-1 in the final four minutes.
“Had we finished the game, the Thunderbirds had the capacity to win,” Adelaide’s Jamaica international Shamera Sterling told Fox Sports.
“It’s a pity that we had to share the four points.”
Adelaide’s England shooter Eleanor Cardwell made all 13 of her attempts, including three two-point shots, with Thunderbirds shooting at 92 percent and Swifts at 76 percent.