In the first semi-final Fury scored a 50-41 win over South Australia.

While the defending premiers led at every change the match was far from a walk over with the fourth-placed South Australians challenging the minor-premiers in every quarter.

A tight first quarter saw the South Australia stick with the Fury thanks to the shooting duo if Melissa Rowland and Jane Alschwager combining well in the circle.

Fury took a three-goal lead into the first change.

Victoria opened the second quarter in a flurry with Kath Knott beginning to get on top of teenage goal keeper Kate Shimmin.

A late quarter South Australian fight back cut Fury’s lead to two with the veteran Alschwager leading from the front.

A composed Fury unit took the court in the third term with the centre court putting immense pressure on the South Australians.

With Knott continuing to dominate the Fury extended their lead to six.

However the South Australians once again fought back, reducing the margin to three, 35-32, at the final change.
Victoria started the final quarter in same manner as the first three pushing their lead to six goals.

While South Australian wing defence Lauren Hyde was impressive, the South Australians battled to break through the Victorian full court pressure.

Despite a talented backline of Shimmin and Georgia, the Fury shooting duo was proving too strong and too tall with balls being fed into the post time and time again.

The Fury continued to extend their lead eventually running out nine goal winners.

In second semi-final, the AIS were victorious over home favourites Queensland with a 46-44 win.

The AIS started strongly against the Fusion opening the scoring. With the defensive combination of Australian Diamond Amy Steel and Sharni Layton in fine form the Queenslanders found it hard to convert.

AIS wing attack Courtney Tairi was dominate throughout the quarter giving her team options all the way down the court, helping the AIS take a 14-10 lead at the first change.

The AIS opened the scoring in the second term with the Queenslanders struggling to get the ball into the circle.

Fusion goal defence Jacinta Messer battled hard to stop the AIS run but the speed of the Institute was causing headaches for the Fusion.

As the quarter continued Fusion shooters Laura Stokes and Stephanie Woods began to get on top of the AIS defence with the AIS leading 26-20 at the main break.

Both coaches made major changes going into the third term hoping to get the edge in the second half.

AIS’s changes paid divided ends with the Institute scoring the first four goals. Laura Scherian’s move to wing attack caused havoc for the Fusion with the pint sized centre court proving too quick and skilful.

Fusion’s centre Katie Walker and goal attack Woods staged a late quarter fight back cutting AIS’s lead to seven at the final change.

A fired-up Fusion scored the first three goals of the final term with centre court Walker dominating all over the court.

However, a calm and composed AIS rallied to ensure that the gap didn’t stretch further than five.

But Fusion would not go away and continued to push the Institute cutting their lead goal by goal.

With Woods firing in the goal circle the AIS saw their lead disappear.

With only seconds to go the Fusion got to within two goals however the experienced AIS were able to steady and play out the game to win 46-44.

The AIS will meet Fury in the Grand Final tomorrow.

The ANL Grand Final will be played as a curtain-raiser to the Australian Netball Diamonds and New Zealand Silver Ferns match at 12.45pm at BCEC.