The Giants have won the second NSW Derby of the year, beating the NSW Swifts 59-55 in Round 11 of Suncorp Super Netball in Adelaide today.
The win, Giants' first over the Swifts since 2018, came on the back of a strong second half performance and better usage of the Super Shot at key moments in the game.
The Giants and Swifts are now top of the Super Netball ladder with seven wins and four losses each, with the former in the No.1 spot thanks to a better goal percentage. The Sunshine Coast Lighting will have the chance to go top when they play the Queensland Firebirds on Monday night.
It was an epic tussle with little to separate the teams, however, the Swifts seemed to lack the clinical edge that was the hallmark of their wins in recent weeks.
Despite the Giants playing a clever possession game to wind the clock down at the death, the Swifts had their chances to win but couldn't see it out.
The six-time Premiers are still well in the hunt for the Minor Premiership and are now waiting to find out who they will face in Round 12. The Swifts still have clashes with Collingwood, the Thunderbirds and Lightning left on their regular-season schedule.
Both teams started well with only one turnover apiece conceded in the first half of the opening quarter. In defence Maddy Turner for the Swifts and Amy Parmenter for the Giants looked impressive, while in attack young Giants shooter Sophie Dwyer was composed and allowed Jo Harten to move the NSW defence around.
Heading into the first Power Play the Swifts held a two-goal lead but Dwyer was quick to cancel that out with the first Super Shot of the day. Helen Housby responded in kind but a miss on her next attempt allowed the Giants to get back on level terms and another Dwyer two-goal shot gave her side a slight edge at quarter-time (16-15).
The second quarter was an end-to-end affair with the attack of both teams providing good reward for their feeders.
A Sarah Klau intercept gave the Swifts the platform needed to retake a slim lead midway through the quarter, but when Sam Wallace was unable to control a ball in the attack end the Giants had the chance to bounce back.
The second Power Five period was an entertaining spectacle and the teams brought contrasting approaches to it. The Giants looked to play the Super Shot quickly and when Harten landed one off a turnover it gave her side a three-goal lead, the biggest of the game to that point.
The Swifts didn't panic and defensive pressure on the Giants' next attack rewarded them with bonus possession. From there they leveled the game by patiently getting the ball up court to score the last three goals of the quarter and head to the sheds at 29-all.
The arm wrestle continued in the third quarter but it was the Giants who started to look the more composed side as it progressed.
The Swifts looked more hurried as they tried to work a way to the post and Briony Akle made some changes with Lauren Moore and Sophie Garbin injected into the game with her side down by two.
A Wallace Super Shot got the Swifts back on level terms but Harten was quick to respond. When the Swifts attack couldn't take a rebound off a missed shot it allowed the England international to put a decent gap between the sides.
Heading to the last break the Giants led by five, a good reward for their ability to control the Power Five period better than their opponents.
The momentum stayed with the Giants early in the fourth quarter and they were quick to take their lead out to seven goals.
The six-time Premiers did have their chances to close the gap heading into the Power Five when the Giants got sloppy in attack but converting was difficult.
Heading into the final five minutes the Giants led by five and the Swifts were chasing the game. It was a crazy period of play with both teams guilty of turning over plenty of ball.
Wallace and Housby landed Super Shots to keep the Swifts well in the hunt but the Giants used the clock to starve them of possession.
Quarter by quarter scores
SWIFTS | Q1: 15, Q2: 29 (14), Q3: 42 (13), Q4: 55 (13)
GIANTS | Q1: 16, Q2: 29 (13), Q3: 47 (18), Q4: 59 (12)
Starting teams
SWIFTS | GS Sam Wallace, GA Helen Housby, WA Paige Hadley, C Maddy Proud, WD Tayla Fraser, GD Maddy Turner, GK Sarah Klau
Reserves used: Lauren Moore, Sophie Garbin, Natalie Haythornthwaite
GIANTS | GS Jo Harten, GA Sophie Dwyer, WA Maddie Hay, C Jamie-Lee Price, WD Amy Parmenter, GD April Brandley, GK Sam Poolman
Reserves used: No reserves used
Match stats: View HERE
