The NSW Swifts' Suncorp Super Netball winning run is over after they fell to a first defeat of the season to the West Coast Fever at Ken Rosewall Arena on Saturday night (79-68).
The seven-time Premiers were second best on a night that saw the West Australians close the gap to NSW at the top of the SSN ladder to one game.
It was a tightly contested start with Grace Nweke and Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard trading early blows in a goal-for-goal opening. Both sides showed attacking intent and were happy to take risks, while Fever defender Kadie-Ann Dehaney was active outside the circle, hunting the ball.
Despite mounting penalties, the visitors managed the first break to lead 13-11 after 10 minutes as Swifts made early defensive rotations with Teigan O’Shannassy replacing Sarah Klau, before Klau returned late in the quarter.
The Swifts mistimed their play late in the term allowing Sunday Aryang to pounce on a turnover as Fever capitalised, pushing out to a six-goal lead. Fever were clinical with ball in hand, converting 100% of their centre passes, gains, and turnovers to goal.
A super shot from Helen Housby kept Swifts in touch, but a miss from Nweke and another costly turnover handed Fever a 21–15 lead at quarter time.
It was a messy and frustrating second term for both sides, with neither team finding much rhythm in what was their lowest-scoring quarter of the season. Fowler-Nembhard remained flawless under the post, while at the other end, Dehaney continued to disrupt Nweke, forcing multiple misses and rattling the Swifts’ attack.
Penalties continued to stack up for Fever but they hadn’t yet proved costly. The Swifts struggled to convert opportunities, with Housby caught stepping and unusually quiet under the post. A tactical timeout from Briony Akle came with her side trailing by four, demanding more urgency and asking her players to better support Nweke.
Allie Smith was injected into the match, with Paige Hadley pushing into wing attack, while Fran Williams came on for Fever. Despite a Fever turnover, Klau kept Swifts in touch with a strong tip though a heavy collision with Fowler-Nembhard forced her from the court.
Housby nailed back-to-back super shots to spark the crowd, but it prompted a timeout from Dan Ryan, who instructed his team to clamp down on the Swifts shooter.
The league-leaders continued to work overtime to find two-point opportunities, but the extra effort came at a cost. Despite leading for most of the quarter, the home side were outdone late again as Fever surged to a 39–32 halftime lead.
The home side opened the third term with energy and intent, snatching a 3–0 break to close the gap and set the tone for a much tidier quarter. But it didn’t take long for Fever to settle, clawing it back to 9–6 behind composed attacking play and the introduction of Olivia Wilkinson into the match.
Despite stacking up rebounds and enjoying periods of momentum, the Swifts – much like in the second quarter – let Fever work their way back in. Housby’s super shots kept the scoreboard moving for the home side, but Dehaney continued to put in a tireless shift in defence, applying relentless pressure.
It was Fever who had the final say in the quarter, converting the last goal to maintain a 53–49 lead heading into the final term.
The home side struggled to find clarity in attack, and the pressure only mounted when Housby went to the bench, replaced by Grace Whyte at goal attack. Fever’s defensive unit ramped up the intensity, and what had been a four-goal margin quickly blew out to eight by the midway mark of the quarter.
Jordan Cransberg was outstanding in the midcourt for the visitors, finishing with 25 assists, an intercept, two deflections and two turnovers in a tireless performance. Housby returned for the Power Five, but Fever’s defensive wall, led by a disruptive Dehaney, continued to cause chaos. The physical contest unsettled Nweke, who struggled to assert herself as Fever capitalised on a key rebound in the final minutes.
With two minutes to play and a nine-goal buffer, the result was sealed. Fever closed it out with control and composure to hand the Swifts their first loss of the season.
