The NSW Swifts produced an epic final-quarter fightback to take long-time rivals the Queensland Firebirds to extra time and eventually secure a rousing 77-73 win at Brisbane’s Nissan Arena.
The Suncorp Super Netball Round 3 clash was a classic and one of the best games of the 28-year rivalry between the Foundation Clubs, and in the end it was the Swifts who held tough when it mattered most.
With new Swifts Centurion Helen Housby playing her 100th game for the seven-time Premiers, NSW had to call on all of their experience to secure a vital away win, coming home strong having looked second best for much of the afternoon.
Briony Akle’s team lost the opening three quarters by margins of three, two and three respectively but they dominated the fourth quarter to win it 17-9 and send the game to overtime.
With the likes of Housby, Sarah Klau, Maddy Proud, Maddy Turner and match MVP Paige Hadley coming to the fore, the Swifts controlled the extra 10 minutes of play beautifully, finding a brilliant target in returning superstar Samantha Wallace-Joseph who shot at 98% from the one-goal zone and contributed 43 goals to her team’s haul.
'It was really tough, we knew Firebirds were going to bring it," Hadley told Fox Sports at fulltime.
"At halftime, Briony told us we were not doing good enough... in that first half we were lacklustre in attack.
"I thought we really brought that defence in the second half and that was all over the court."
Head coach Akle said she was proud of how the team grew as the game went on, despite wave after wave of defensive and midcourt pressure from an impressive Firebirds outfit.
“They had the energy, once they knew that they were back in the game,” she told media afterwards.
“It was then going to the strategy. I knew once we got it even, I knew we had it. We’re the team that can do it.
“The Firebirds brought it to us for 60 minutes, so we had to be smarter and we were.”
Silver Fern Elle Temu, once again deputising for the injured Teigan O’Shassassy enjoyed the most minutes she’s seen in a Swifts dress so far and was an imposing presence as the contest reached its thrilling climax.
Akle made good use of everyone in her Game Day squad with Sophie Fawns, Allie Smith and Lili Gorman-Brown all making fine contributions to a challenge that took them well beyond regulation time.
Housby, meanwhile, continued her world-class form. The double Premiership champion and World Cup MVP landed six Super Shots from seven attempts and shot at 92% from one-point range.
The result puts the Swifts in the Super Netball top four for the first time this season, just one game behind ladder leaders West Coast Fever who they face next Sunday back in Sydney.
Full Match Stats
