The NSW Swifts have missed out on the chance to go top of the Suncorp Super Netball ladder after going down 58-53 to the Thunderbirds at Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Saturday night.
The sides may be rivals for 25 years but the result was the Thunderbirds' first win over the Swifts in the Super Netball era since the competition replaced the ANZ Championship in 2017.
The home side won all four quarters in a brilliant display against a out-of-sorts Swifts side that looked disjointed from start to finish.
The result was the Swifts' first loss in three rounds and in truth they didn't look like winning at any stage. A late flurry of Super Shots from Helen Housby got them within four goals after they had been down by nine at one stage in the last period, but they lacked the composure needed to secure a miracle comeback.
It was a disappointing showing from the six-time Premiers and the first time they've lost to opposition outside of the top four in 2021. Having played their best four quarters of the year against the Giants last weekend, this performance was a shadow of that.
The Thunderbirds were first to every loose ball and looked much more like the Adelaide sides of old rather than the teams who've struggled in recent seasons.
The Swifts are now 4-3 for the season and will look to bounce back against the Queensland Firebirds at home next weekend before a bye round the following week.
From the off, the Thunderbirds looked in control as they pressed in defence. After five minutes they led 4-2, forcing Swifts head coach Briony Akle into calling a timeout.
From there NSW settled and started to work their way into the game, and a rebound in defence gave them the break they needed to get back on level terms before the first Power Five came into play.
However, the hosts were looking good and they secured an impressive six intercepts to one in the first period as Shamera Sterling and Shadine Van Der Merwe thwarted the Swifts at every opportunity. Georgie Horjus landed a Super Shot just before the first break and the Thunderbirds were good value for their 13-11 lead.
The start of the second quarter was scrappy as both teams turned over a host of possession but it was Adelaide who continued to look more comfortable in the key moments before halftime.
Sterling was imposing in defence as both Tayla Fraser and Maddy Proud struggled to feed Sam Wallace who was well marked by the South Australians.
In the second Power Five period the Thunderbirds looked to build an imposing lead as they harried and hustled for every possession and in Lenize Poteiger their midcourters had a good target to aim for.
It could have gotten worse for the Swifts but Wallace came up with a big play on the halftime buzzer, sinking the sole Super Shot of the quarter to ensure the six-time Premiers only went to the sheds three down (28-25).
Akle made big changes for the second half as Paige Hadley moved to centre from wing defence with Proud to wing attack and Housby and Sophie Garbin making up the shooting circle.
Lauren Moore was also introduced in defence as the Swifts looked to get out of second gear. They started to win more turnover possession and the gap was reduced to two but Sterling was still proving to be a huge pest when the Swifts midcourters tried to feed the ball.
The Jamaican and her South African teammate Van Der Merwe upped the ante and in the blink of an eye the turnovers they generated allowed the Thunderbirds push out to a six-goal lead midway through the third quarter.
Every time the Swifts went on a run to close the gap the Thunderbirds responded in kind. Moore came up with some important rebounds as the Swifts looked to find a way back into the contest and the visitors were unlucky not to level the third quarter after a Garbin shot was ruled to have left her hand after the buzzer.
Instead the Thunderbirds won it by a single goal to take a four-goal lead (42-38) to the last break.
With Wallace marked out of the game, Akle tried Natalie Haythornthwaite at goal attack for the last period with Housby at shooter but it didn't have the desired impact and the Trinidad & Tobago international was reintroduced for the last Power Five period.
Despite their poor showing, the Swifts were still in the running to win the game thanks mainly to Housby's heroics. Adelaide turned over plenty of possession as the likes of Klau and Moore continued to step up but in the attack end the Swifts rushed plays at critical times.
It was the story of the Swifts' evening as a chance to go top fell from their grasp.
Quarter by quarter scores
SWIFTS | Q1: 11, Q2: 25 (14), Q3: 38 (13), Q4: 53 (15)
T'BIRDS | Q1: 13, Q2: 28 (15), Q3: 42 (14), Q4: 58 (16)
Starting teams
SWIFTS | GS Sam Wallace, GA Helen Housby, WA Natalie Haythornthwaite, C Maddy Proud, WD Paige Hadley, GD Maddy Turner, GK Sarah Klau
Reserves used: Tayla Fraser, Sophie Garbin, Lauren Moore
T'BIRDS | GS Lenize Potgieter, GA Georgie Horjus, WA Maisie Nankivell, C Hannah Petty, WD Shadine Van Der Merwe, GD Matilda Garrett, GK Shamera Sterling
Reserves used: Latanya Wilson, Elle McDonald
Match stats: View HERE
