The NSW Swifts have fallen just short (53-48) after staging a monumental comeback against the Melbourne Vixens in Round 2 of Suncorp Super Netball at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney.
Missing co-captain Paige Hadley (COVID) and Sam Wallace (season-ending ACL injury) the new-look Premiers struggled early to match the streetwise Vixens who looked slick and ready to challenge for the Swifts' crown in 2022.
Heading into the second half the seven-time champions were on the ropes as the Vixens flexed their muscles, looking much more like the side which claimed the title in 2020.
Well down by double figures the Swifts rallied to dominate the second half in the manner their opponents did in the first.
And while it was a second consecutive defeat, Swifts head coach Briony Akle was proud her changed-up side - which included two debutants - pushed the early competition pace-setters so close.
"While any side would miss players of Sam and Paige's quality, we still have a very strong Championship DNA in the team, and six of our starting seven have won two Premierships with us," she said.
"It was a pretty rough start to the season but we showed tonight that, despite our missing players, we could match it with the Vixens who are many people's pick for the title this year.
"To see Lili Gorman-Brown and Sophie Fawns, who are NSW juniors, come out and show what they've got has to make you proud.
"There was a huge amount asked of them and they delivered. Sophie in particular came on and had enough time to settle into the game and she showed how mature she is, even though she's only just turned 18."
The Vixens were dominant in the opening exchanges as the Swifts adjusted to their new-look combinations in attack.
Australian Diamond Liz Watson was highly influential, connecting well with fellow midcourter Kate Moloney to feed Mwai Kumwenda and Rahani Samason.
The Victorians led by seven goals at one stage but in the first Power Five period the Premiers did an excellent job in defence to deny their rivals the chance to Super Shot and, despite a host of errors, the home side were only five down at quarter-time.
The second quarter was, for the first part, an even affair as the sides traded goals but it wasn't long before the Vixens' connections started to hum and their experienced defence began dominating the home attack.
Two Swifts made their club debuts with Wagga Wagga native Fawns coming on at goal attack and Sutherland Shire junior Gorman-Brown entering the midcourt.
The duo looked at home at the highest level but the Vixens were very effective at producing blanket defence when needed, and they produced plenty of turnover ball which was converted.
Samason was on target with a pair of Super Shots which thwarted the Swifts just before the break as the visitors claimed the second period (18-10) to take a 32-19 advantage to the sheds at halftime.
The third quarter was a niggly affair to begin with as the teams struggled to find an easy route to goal. However, despite having the scoreboard against them, the Swifts slowly started to click.
Fawns and Helen Housby had some nice interplay and the fluid attack of the Vixens was suddenly looking rattled as Sarah Klau and Maddy Turner got reward for their efforts.
The home side won the quarter 13-11 and for all of their opponents' dominance the latter only led by 11 at the final break.
The endgame was all about the Swifts as the Championship DNA Akle spoke of post-game came to the fore. The moving circle of Fawns and Housby started to tire the Vixens defence, while in attack the visitors looked shaky and hesitant en route to the post.
The impressive Fawns fell on the ball with a minute remaining which led to her being penalised. It was a vital turnover for the Vixens as it robbed Fawns of the chance to get the Swifts within one.
The Victorians played it safe in the final minute to get home.
FULL MATCH STATS
