The NSW Swifts have stayed well in the Suncorp Super Netball Finals hunt after a brilliant 63-57 win over the West Coast Fever at RAC Arena in Perth.
With former Swift Romelda Aiken-George breaking Swifts legend Cath Cox’s all-time National League appearance record there was a huge crowd of almost 10,000 in attendance but it was the visitors who had them silent for most of the afternoon.
The Swifts, securing back-to-back wins for the first time this season, claimed the opening three quarters to lead by nine heading into a wild last period where the West Australians came roaring back but couldn’t land from range when it counted.
Swifts midcourter Maddy Proud was the MVP but this was a game where all of Briony Akle’s squad turned up.
In truth, it would have been a bitter pill to swallow had the Round 10 contest gotten away from them at the death, but the Swifts held strong with Proud taking charge in the final two minutes to guide the seven-time Premiers home.
The Swifts had the better of the early exchanges and led by two heading into the first Power Five (13-11).
Their strong showing in the first quarter was down to the dynamism of Grace Whyte who did a huge amount of work to clean up loose ball, while Grace Nweke kept the scoreboard ticking over nicely.
Sasha Glasgow landed a Super Shot to put the Fever on level terms but two long-range efforts from Whyte ensured the Swifts led at the first break (20-18) despite frustratingly failing to convert consecutive defensive gains.
Midway through the second quarter the Swifts led by six after they took advantage of confusion in the Fever midcourt.
Proud and Tayla Fraser were superb in the middle for the Swifts while Nweke was a brilliant moving target, coming out of the circle to provide another passing option when play stagnated.
In the opening half the Swifts had 97% conversion of their own centre passes and that stat was telling in their favour as the game progressed.
NSW had the opportunity to extend their lead to eight and did so briefly before another Glasgow Super Shot kept the hosts in touching distance at halftime, just six goals in arrears (39-33).
The second half started a very messy affair with both teams guilty of losing possession on numerous occasions, but neither was converting the opportunities presented.
However, the Swifts defenders continued to come up with big plays and the excellence primarily of Sarah Klau gave her side the chance to lead by nine before the third power five.
Over the course of the next five minutes the Swifts defended in all areas of the court with the Fever sometimes taking almost 50 seconds to get to goal.
While the Swifts were guilty again of failing to capitalise on possession gains, they maintained their nine-goal advantage and took it to the final break (52-43).
An offensive contact, an offside call and a spilled pass gave the Fever the window they needed to whittle the lead down to three midways in the last Power Five period.
Despite looking shellacked all afternoon, the Fever suddenly had the momentum needed to pull victory from the jaws of defeat.
But the Swifts held firm. They may have lost Nweke to injury for the final five minutes but the NSW defence and midcourt was rock solid in big moments.
Their pressure and presence meant Glasgow and Olivia Wilkinson couldn’t land the two-pointer needed to setup a grandstand finish.
Instead it was the Swifts who pulled away to ensure their season lives on.
