The NSW Swifts are into the Suncorp Super Netball top four after a thrilling 64-63 win over the Sunshine Coast Lighting at Sippy Downs in Queensland today.
The Round 5 clash was thrilling sporting theatre from start to finish and a brilliant advertisement for Australia’s – and perhaps the world’s – leading female team-sport league.
The Swifts and the Lightning, the competition’s two most successful sides since Super Netball replaced the ANZ Championship as the National League in 2017, traded punches for 60 breathless minutes in front of a passionate home crowd that lifted the roof off USC Stadium from minute one.
In the end a clutch Super Shot and follow-up intercept from game MVP Helen Housby proved the difference in a battle where the result was in doubt until the final seconds.
The first quarter was one of the best exhibitions of play seen in the 2023 competition so far with both teams playing a thrilling brand of fast, attacking netball.
Turnovers were rare although Karla Pretorius and Kadie-Ann Dehaney both registered possession gains in the opening 15 minutes, while the Swifts’ defensive pair of Sarah Klau and Maddy Turner hustled well to force the hosts into spilling the ball on attack.
Neither side registered a Super Shot in the first Power Five but it was the Lightning who held a one-goal advantage at the first break (16-15).
The lead exchanged hands numerous times in the second quarter.
The Swifts were fastest to pounce on a loose ball in the Lightning attacking third and it provided Romelda Aiken-George the opportunity to get the visitors in front before two Dehaney intercepts did likewise for Cara Koenen and Steph Wood.
An offensive contact call against Tayla Fraser five minutes from halftime could have been the window for the Lightning to take a firm grip on the game but the Swifts rallied well to keep themselves in the hunt.
When Wood landed a Super Shot the hosts had momentum, however, the huge work of Maddy Proud, Allie Smith and Paige Hadley in the midcourt, coupled with the ever-growing connection between Aiken-George and Housby, meant there was only a three-goal difference at the big break (34-31).
The Swifts jumped out of the blocks at the start of the third quarter to get back on level terms but back-to-back turnovers quickly put the Lightning on the front foot again.
Entering the third Power Five the Queenslanders led by five, which was the biggest margin in the game to that point, but confusion between Koenen and Wood – when the latter was shaping to take a Super Shot – was the catalyst the Swifts needed.
Housby landed a two-pointer on turnover possession and Aiken-George converted the gain off the next centre pass to put just one goal between the sides at the last break.
The end-to-end action continued in the final term with both teams showing huge commitment, accuracy and ferocity in attack and defence.
Locked at 62-all with less than two minutes to play the Lightning called the final timeout of the game.
Cometh the hour, cometh the player and Housby took the brave option of taking a Super Shot to put the Swifts one up and heap the pressure on the hosts.
When they couldn’t reach the attacking circle off the final centre pass the Swifts had the smarts to see the game out.
Quarter Scores:
Q1: Swifts 15 Lightning 16
Q2: Swifts 31 Lightning 34 (16-18)
Q3: Swifts 47 Lightning 48 (16-14)
Q4: Swifts 64 Lightning 63 (17-15)
Swifts Starting 7: GS Romelda Aiken-George, GA Helen Housby, WA Paige Hadley, C Maddy Proud, WD Allie Smith, GD Maddy Turner, GK Sarah Klau
Reserves: Teigan O'Shannassy, Tayla Fraser, Sophie Fawns
Match Stats: View HERE
