The Ipswich Jets are the runners up in the 2020 HART, semi-professional Netball Sapphire Series after being defeated by Brisbane North Cougars in a commanding game on the weekend.

The final score was 62-47. 

The season-long rivals appeared equally matched in the beginning, but the Cougars took a 15-goal lead over the Jets in the second quarter. 

According to Netball Queensland, “The Cougars showcased all the skills that led them to the final in the second quarter, scoring an astounding 22 goals to the Jets’ 7.” 

Hoping for a miracle in the last fifteen minutes, the Jets fought until the final moment and as Netball Queensland suggests, “It is a testament to the character of their players that the effort they supplied did not drop for a moment.”

Despite the hunger for the title, it was the Cougars defence which stood in the way until the final whistle. 

Jets Netball Operations Manager Troye Pollock said the game was head to head most of the way through and is proud of the team. 

“They had only lost one game in the season,” she said. 

“In the grand final it was only the one quarter, the rest of the game they were head to head.

“Our girls all have careers, and during Covid-19 it’s been tough.

“We’ve got pracademics, nutritionists, teachers and nurses.

“It’s been a long hard few months for them.

“They’ve worked so hard.”

The Jets placed third in the series in 2019 and now after scoring the runners-up position in the semi-professional netball league, the team are making a name for themselves in the sport and in the Ipswich community.