The NSW Swifts have emerging victorious from a titanic battle with the Adelaide Thunderbirds to claim the spoils in Round 4 of Suncorp Super Netball at Netball SA Stadium.
The Premiers claimed a 45-44 win, their second in succession, but it was a close-run affair with their long-time rivals in the contest right up until the final seconds.
Once a league powerhouse, the Thunderbirds look to be on the right track back to the top table of Australian netball. They made the Swifts’ night uncomfortable from start to finish but in the end the champions had enough to close out a contest they could have put out of sight were it not for the heroics of an inspired South Australian defence.
The early stages went goal for goal before an offensive contact against Adelaide gave the Swifts the first mini-break of the game. A Shamera Sterling tip on an attempted Sophie Fawns shot got the hosts back on level terms before the first Power Five period when indiscipline by the Thunderbirds on attack gave the impetus back to the Swifts.
The Premiers had to be patient in their approach to the post with the hosts swarming impressively in defence, but a Helen Housby Super Shot double gave the Premiers a three-goal lead (13-10) at the first break.
The Thunderbirds’ defensive pairing of Sterling and Latanya Wilson upped the ante signifyingly at the start of Q2, disrupting the smooth linkage between Housby and Fawns and bringing their side right back into the contest.
The elevation they were able to get over the shot soon gave Adelaide the turnovers they needed to retake the lead, and midway through the quarter it was Briony Akle calling for a timeout.
It steadied the ship somewhat with Kelly Singleton, who came on for Fawns, landing a Super Shot at the start of the second Power Five period; five minutes of play which the Swifts, generally, had the better of.
The game become scrappy before halftime with neither side able to make proper use of the turnover possession the respective defences were delivering yet, despite the ebbs and flows, the Swifts still led by three at the halftime break.
Big defensive plays by Sarah Klau at the start of the second half gave the Premiers the opportunity to take an eight-goal lead but there was no shaking the Thunderbirds off. Continued defensive pressure from Sterling and Wilson gave them a platform to shrink the Swifts’ advantage to two before a Housby Super Shot settled her side somewhat.
At the final break the Premiers still led by three but it was a remarkably tight contest.
NSW again had the better of the 50-50 scraps for possession at the start of the final quarter and going into the last Power Five period they held a four-goal lead.
A Fawns tip when she tracked back in defence gave her side the vital turnover needed to seal the deal. The Swifts were ponderous off the next centre pass and it opened the door for their opponents to almost steal the points.
A brace of Georgie Horjus Super Shots brought the margin back to one but indiscipline – an offensive contact this time – came back to haunt the South Australians.
From there the Premiers did what they do best: they kept possession to see the game out.
FULL MATCH STATS
