It may have been patchy at times but the NSW Swifts’ Suncorp Super Netball winning-streak has continued with the seven-time Aussie netball Premiers outlasting the Sunshine Coast Lightning 67-63 at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney today.
The result of the Round 8 clash, which was also the Club’s Pride Match, was in question with two minutes to play, but in the end the Queenslanders had too much ground to make up on their hosts.
Aussie Diamonds shooter, and former Swift, Steph Wood was in sensational form from the Super Shot zone, scoring nine of her 11 attempts, and at one stage it looked like she would spoil the day for the raucous home fans. But NSW had their own long-range weapon in Helen Housby and she didn’t disappoint when the heat came on.
Housby landed seven of her own Super Shots to keep the Lightning at bay, and the Swifts in third spot on the competition ladder.
Despite losing the opening quarter, NSW responded to win the next two and level the final period.
Match MVP Sarah Klau was at her imperious best, shifting to goal defence to allow Teigan O’Shannassy slot into goal keeper. Klau finished the game with two interceptions and seven deflections, and was the lynchpin of a Swifts defensive effort that grew stronger as the game went on.
All square after five minutes of play, the Lightning broke the goal-for-goal deadlock with back-to-back possession gains to seize the early momentum.
Swifts head coach Briony Akle was the first to call a timeout it seemed to do the trick when Klau took an intercept off the next play. The Queenslanders, however, were looking slick on attack with Wood and fellow Aussie Diamond Cara Koenen moving well in the goal circle.
Wood and Housby exchanged a number of Super Shots in the first Power Five and it was the Lightning who led at quarter-time, 17-15.
NSW were much improved in the second period, showing more composure with their gains to get back on level terms and eventually head to the halftime break in front.
Akle was mixing up her defensive circle, moving Klau to goal defence and injecting O’Shannassy at goal keeper, with Maddy Turner and Tayla Fraser interchanging at wing defence.
It gave the Lightning more to ponder on approach to goal and with it came the opportunities for the Swifts to pounce. Back on level terms three minutes from halftime courtesy of another Housby Super Shot, the England superstar was the fore again with the final play of the half.
Housby was proving she could more than rival Wood from range and at the big break the seven-time Premiers were one-goal up – 35-34.
NSW had the better of things for the majority of the third quarter, scrapping well for loose ball but they could never quite shake the team from the Sunshine Coast: Wood was putting on a Super Shot masterclass, almost single-handedly keeping her side in the contest.
In the third Power Five she landed four consecutive two-pointers, while the Swifts were content to take single goals on their visits to the post.
Despite that, Housby must have felt a swing in the game, because was quick to step-up from range again.
The double Premiership winner added another two Super Shots to her tally, and it meant the Swifts led by four at the final break.
It never looked comfortable for the home side in the last quarter but all of the pressure was on their opponents. Up by eight goals at the one stage, the Swifts could’ve really put some daylight between the sides but Romelda Aiken-George – who was impressive again – failed to convert the gain.
The Lightning had their chances to put some real heat on NSW, but – unlike earlier in the game – the Super Shots weren’t sticking at the fulltime whistle neared.
Quarter Scores:
Q1: Swifts 15 Lightning 17
Q2: Swifts 35 Lightning 34 (20-17)
Q3: Swifts 53 Lightning 49 (18-15)
Q4: Swifts 67 Lightning 63 (14-14)
Swifts Starting 7: GS Romelda Aiken-George, GA Helen Housby, WA Paige Hadley, C Maddy Proud, WD Tayla Fraser, GD Maddy Turner, GK Sarah Klau
Reserves: Teigan O'Shannassy, Sophie Fawns, Lili Gorman-Brown
Match Stats: View HERE
