The NSW Swifts went for a big play at the death but their efforts fell agonisingly short in a pulsating Round 3 Suncorp Super Netball clash with the Sunshine Coast Lightning in Queensland on Saturday night.
The scores tied with just over a minute to play, Helen Housby attempted a Super Shot to break the deadlock and give the Swifts some clean air with seconds on the clock.
Unfortunately for NSW it didn’t land and when Courtney Bruce picked up the rebound the Lightning slowed the play right down to give Donnell Wallam the platform to score two singles goals and edge the contest in the home side’s favour by the narrowest of margins – 66-65.
It was a game where the balance of power changed minute by minute and the Swifts were left to rue the chances they left behind them. They only converted 60 per cent of their gains, while the hosts’ percentage was in the 80s.
In a contest where the margins were so slim it proved to be the difference.
Swifts goalkeeper Teigan O’Shannassy started with a bang when she took a fine intercept in front of Wallam. It gave the Swifts the impetus they needed to race out to a 4-0 start before the Lightning found their feet.
While the Swifts were producing bonus possession, they weren’t making it stick. Two contact calls against Grace Nweke and a loose pass by Housby allowed the Queenslanders get back on level terms and the teams were tied at 12 apiece entering the first Super Shot period.
A Housby two-pointer off turnover possession got NSW back on the front foot and they took at three-goal lead to the first break (17-14).
Defensive pressure from Courtney Bruce and Karin Burger had the Lightning back within one early in the second period before more excellent work from O’Shannassy gave Housby and Nweke the chance to produce a four-goal advantage for the Swifts.
A standout of NSW’s first-half performance was also the feeding of rookie Grace Whyte who supplied fast ball into her attack end.
A Burger tip on a missed Housby two-point attempt and an out-of-court call against Whyte put the Lightning back on level terms with just over two minutes remaining in the half, and it forced Swifts head coach Briony Akle to call a timeout in an effort to stem the home side’s momentum.
Housby sank a Super Shot off the next play and O’Shannassy and Sharni Lambden came up with a turnover but Bruce stepped up to snuff out NSW’s chance to regain the momentum.
The Lightning took the quarter 19-15 and a one-goal lead to the halftime break (33-32).
The home side carried that momentum into the third quarter, taking full advantage when Nweke was unable to handle a pass. Another contact call against the Silver Ferns attacker could’ve put the Swifts in deep trouble but Sarah Klau came up with a big intercept to keep the margin at three with six minutes to play in the period.
In a contest where both teams were producing wonderful netball, the momentum continued to swing. Early in the third Super Shot period the Lightning were in full control when they stretched their lead out to five goals, however, back came the Swifts.
With Housby given a breather, Whyte stepped into the goal circle and back-to-back Super Shots from the Tumut youngster meant there were just two goals between the sides at three-quarter time (53-51).
The final quarter followed the script with both teams putting themselves in winning positions. Housby made the brave call to win the game in regular time for her side but the rebound fell the Lightning's way.
Next Sunday the Swifts face the West Coast Fever in Round 4 at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney Olympic Park.
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