The Swifts’ latest centurion Paige Hadley has celebrated her 100th game for the club with an MVP-winning performance in the Premiers’ Round 3 Suncorp Super Netball victory over the Adelaide Thunderbirds at the University of Sunshine Coast in Sippy Downs on Wednesday night.
The Diamonds midcourter was at the centre of everything as NSW survived a third-quarter wobble to continue their unbeaten start to the season with a 66-51 win.
Hadley became the fifth Swift to play 100 games for the club since its foundation in 1997, following in the footsteps of netball legends Liz Ellis, Cath Cox, Kim Green and Susan Pettitt.
The reigning champions looked far more composed over the course of the game than they did in Rounds 1 and 2 and now face the prospect of a Grand Final rematch against the Sunshine Coast Lightning at the same venue on Sunday.
The first quarter started with both teams looking sharp and trading goals. A stepping call against Thunderbirds goal shooter Lenize Potgieter gave the Swifts the opportunity to put some distance between the teams but, despite securing plenty of turnover possession early in the opening period, they missed consecutive opportunities to convert.
Confusion in the Adelaide attacking end then gave the Premiers another chance to extend their lead and they didn’t waste it. Despite pressing defence from the Thunderbirds, NSW were able to navigate a way to the post and restrict their opponents to one Suncorp Super Shot in the first Rebel Power Five of the night, going to the first break 18-10 ahead.
Briony Akle’s troops were dominant at the start of the second quarter as the head coach made some changes, bringing on skipper Maddy Proud and Tayla Fraser and giving Hadley a rest. Under the post Helen Housby and Sam Wallace were combining well and the Premiers were soon humming with a 15-goal lead.
However, the Thunderbirds weren’t in any mood to lie down before the break. Good defensive work from Shamera Sterling, coupled with a pair of Super Shots from replacement Sasha Glasgow meant Adelaide were still well in touch at halftime – 35-23.
The Swifts scored the opening three goals of the second half but they couldn’t shake their opponents. Sterling was stepping up in defence and when NSW started to lose their rhythm in attack Adelaide looked much better in attack. Having comfortably led for most of the game, suddenly the Premiers were under pressure with their lead reduced to single digits.
Housby then stepped up to produce a settler with the first Super Shot of the third period as the Swifts fought back to level the quarter (12-12) and keep their 12-goal advantage heading into the final 15 minutes of play.
The teams traded goals in the opening exchanges of the last quarter, which played into the Premiers’ hands as they ran the clock down and kept their double-digit lead in the process. It meant the Thunderbirds had to push the game and from there the turnovers started to come in large supply.
Akle brought on goal attack Kelly Singleton to make her Swifts debut, the Manly product becoming the 64th player to wear the Red Dress since club grew to encompass the whole of NSW in 2008 (the club was known as the Sydney Swifts from 1997-2007).
Adelaide didn’t give up, and a late flurry of Super Shots from Glasgow – she landed three in the closing stages – brought them closer on the scoreboard but by that stage the game was beyond them.
Quarter by Quarter Scores
SWIFTS | Q1: 18, Q2: 35 (17), Q3: 47 (12), Q4: 66 (19)
T’BIRDS | Q1: 10, Q2: 23 (13), Q3: 35 (12), Q4: 51 (16)
Starting Teams
SWIFTS | GS Sam Wallace, GA Helen Housby, WA Natalie Haythornthwaite, C Paige Hadley, WD Sophie Craig, GD Lauren Moore, GK Sarah Klau
Reserves used: Maddy Proud, Tayla Fraser, Sophie Garbin, Kelly Singleton
T’BIRDS | GS Lenize Potgieter, GA Georgie Horjus, WA Chelsea Pitman, C Maisie Nankivell, WD Shadine van der Merwe, GD Kate Shimmin, GK Shamera Sterling
Match Stats: View full match stats here
