The NSW Swifts have ended their 2023 pre-season campaign with a 66-57 win over the Collingwood Magpies at Sydney Olympic Park today.
It was a game which the Swifts controlled for the most part, but the injury-hit Melbournians certainly played their role is a proper hit-out for both teams.
The Swifts and Collingwood will meet in Round 1 of Suncorp Super Netball at John Cain Arena in two weeks’ time,
The opening quarter was typically intense and both defences on were on top early with it taking the Swifts almost 90 seconds to register the first goal of the game.
The Magpies were missing some front-liners but still started with a full Super Netball capped starting seven, book-ended by the world-class Geva Mentor and Shimona Nelson.
Former Swift Kelly Singleton was back in town to face her old side, while Jodi-Ann Ward and Maddie Hinchcliffe lined up in defence for the Pies.
It took a full 10 minutes for the Swifts to hit their groove but Romelda Aiken-George made their task easier by providing an excellent target for her feeders and at the first break the Swifts led 16-11.
A missed Helen Housby shot and an overthrow into the goal circle by Maddy Proud gave the Magpies a window to get back into the contest early in the second quarter.
Swifts Head Coach Briony Akle made some changes to her side for Q2, inserting Tayla Fraser and Kelea Iongi into the game, but the Pies looked much more assured as the term progressed.
Midway through the second quarter the Pies were level and Akle called her first timeout but it was followed by a missed Aiken-George shot which gave Collingwood the turnover they needed to take the lead.
A Housby Super Shot double quickly had the Swifts back in front and when she landed a third it ensured the hosts maintained a five-goal lead heading to the halftime break.
It was a thrilling way the end a pulsating first half in which the sides were locked at 19 goals apiece.
NSW started Q3 with the moving circle combo of Sophie Fawns and Housby, and while they were tested by the height for Mentor, Ward and Hinchcliffe in the air, it didn’t stop the Swifts moving out to a 10-goal lead.
The seven-time Premiers were dominant as the period progressed and the Magpies started to miss some of their injured players, including former double-Swifts Premiership champion Sophie Garbin, and another ex-Swift in Diamonds star Ash Brazill.
There was a lot of scrappy netball just before the teams headed to the final break, but the Swifts were good value for their commanding 15-goal lead.
Collingwood introduced two of their male training partners for the final quarter, who added significant height and speed to the visiting attack and midcourt, and when the margin was reduced to 10 goals the Swifts had to step-up to see the game out.
Fawns landed a Super Shot double to sniff out any hint of a Magpies comeback but the Swifts know their opponents will be a different prospect when they meet in Round 1 of the SSN.
Q1: Swifts 16, Pies 11
Q2: Swifts 35, Pies 30 (19-19)
Q3: Swifts 52, Pies 37 (17-7)
Q4: Swifts 66, Pies 57 (14-20)
Swifts Team
Q1: GS Romedla Aiken-George, GA Sophie Fawns, WA Maddy Proud, C Paige Hadley, WD Allie Smith, GD Maddy Turner, GK Sarah Klau
Q2: GS: Romedla Aiken-George, GA Helen Housby, WA Tayla Fraser, C Maddy Proud, WD Allie Smith/Maddy Turner, GD Maddy Turner/Kelea Iongi, GK Sarah Klau
Q3: GS: Sophie Fawns, GA Helen Housby, WA Paige Hadley, C Tayla Fraser, WD Allie Smith, GD Maddy Turner/Kelea Iongi, GK Sarah Klau
Q4: GS: Romelda Aiken-George, GA Helen Housby, WA Paige Hadley, C Maddy Proud, WD Allie Smith, GD Kelea Iongi, GK Sarah Klau
