The NSW Swifts will look to add a seventh Premiership to their trophy cabinet in two weeks’ time when they contest the 2021 Suncorp Super Netball Grand Final after over coming local rivals the Giants in Saturday’s Major Semi Final at Brisbane’s Nissan Arena.
In what was an epic tussle that went down to the final seconds, the Swifts ended the game just on the right side of a 62-61 score-line which reflected the closeness of the contest.
Having raced out to an eight-goal lead at the end of the first quarter, the Swifts had to hang on against a Giants side that was equally impressive in the manner in which they pulled themselves back into the game.
There remains a 50-50 chance of the Swifts facing the Minor Premier Giants in the decider with the latter now set to play next weekend in the Preliminary Final against the winner of West Coast Fever’s clash with the Sunshine Coast Lightning.
To say this was a brutal, physical contest would be an understatement. The hits both sides inflicted on each other made the crowd wince at times, but it only added to the thrilling nature of the game which was elite netball at its finest.
At the death the Swifts looked to have successfully played down the clock to deny the Giants an opportunity to win the game, however, a stray pass meant the six-time Premiers had to rely on the world-class Sarah Klau to come up with one final intercept to seal their place in a second Grand Final in three years.
The Swifts, who last won a Premiership in 2019, will now enjoy a week off as they wait to discover who they’ll play on August 28 at the same venue.
As expected, it was a hotly contested opening 10 minutes with little to separate the sides. Both teams were guilty of spilling possession, however, neither could build a significant lead early on.
Klau looked in brilliant touch in the Swifts’ defensive circle and it was her possession gains that were the catalyst for NSW’s dominance of the first Power Five.
Helen Housby and game MVP Sam Wallace (who shot 45 goals at 94%) were keen to reward their teammates’ efforts down the court and they combined to land three Super Shots which gave the Swifts a 20-12 advantage at the first break.
The Giants responded quickly at the start of the second quarter when April Brandley got a good tip on a ball intended for Wallace. It allowed the Giants register the first three goals of the period.
Midway through the quarter the gap was down to five and the Giants were enjoying a more plentiful and productive time in possession.
When Swifts replacement Lauren Moore came up with a brilliant intercept the Swifts extended their lead back to seven and it forced Giants head coach Julie Fitzgerald to call her second timeout of the game.
It seemed to have the desired effect with the Giants looking more eager in their attempts to create turnover possession.
The period of play just before halftime was topsy-turvy with neither side looking particularly composed but the Giants had the better of the second Power Five. Sophie Dwyer stepped up to score her first Super Shot of the game as the Giants won the quarter 16-14 to go to the big break just six goals in arrears.
They carried that momentum into the third quarter when Brandley and Maddie Hay came up with big plays to further reduce the gap to two goals.
Swifts head coach Briony Akle called a timeout but the Giants continued to close in on their rivals as the physicality of the game went to new levels.
As they have for a lot of the season, the Giants controlled the Super Shot period better with Dwyer and Jo Harten producing clutch plays to edge their team ahead for the first time, but Wallace was quick to respond and she ensured the Swifts still had the lead at the last break –48-49.
It was typically taut and tense at the start to the final quarter as the sides traded goals before another Moore intercept gave the Swifts the chance to stretch the lead to four mid-way through the period.
Again, the Giants looked the more composed when it came to landing Super Shots and both Dwyer and Harten looked like they would edge the contest in their team’s favour, but somehow the Swifts rallied.
Looking to take the pace out of the game they controlled possession and, despite losing co-captain Maddy Proud to a head knock for the closing stages, they held their nerve.
Even when the ball went awry Klau, as she had been all day, was in the right place at the right time to get her team home.
Quarter by quarter scores
SWIFTS | Q1: 20, Q2: 34 (14), Q3: 49 (15), Q4: 62 (13)
GIANTS | Q1: 12, Q2: 28 (16), Q3: 48 (20), Q4: 61 (13)
Starting teams
SWIFTS | GS Sam Wallace, GA Helen Housby, WA Paige Hadley, C Maddy Proud, WD Tayla Fraser, GD Maddy Turner, GK Sarah Klau
Reserves used: Lauren Moore, Natalie Haythornthwaite, Sophie Garbin
GIANTS | GS Jo Harten, GA Sophie Dwyer, WA Maddie Hay, C Jamie-Lee Price, WD Amy Parmenter, GD April Brandley, GK Sam Poolman
Reserves used: Matilda McDonnell
Match stats: View HERE
