The NSW Swifts have come from 10 goals down to claim a thrilling 73-72 win over the West Coast Fever in Round 2 of Suncorp Super Netball at University of Sunshine Coast in Sippy Downs.
In what was the game of the year so far, the Premiers fought back from a huge deficit late in the second quarter to lead by a sizeable margin themselves, only to just get home at the death.
The Suncorp Super Shot proved a good tool for both teams in their respective comebacks, but it was NSW who were more streetwise in the final minute to seal a second success from two outings.
The early impetus was with the Fever as calls against Sam Wallace in attack and Lauren Moore in defence allowed the West Australians to take a 6-3 lead before Akle called her first timeout of the game.
A stepping call against Natalie Haythornthwaite was quickly cancelled out by a loose Verity Charles pass, which meant NSW could keep in early touch, and then a Moore intercept gave Wallace the opportunity to put the Premiers back within striking distance.
The first Rebel Power Five of the afternoon started with Fever goal attack Alice Teague-Neeld sinking a pair of Super Shots from range, but Wallace and Helen Housby responded in kind with the Swifts going to the first break two down - 20-18.
Converting turnover possession was proving difficult for NSW early in the second quarter, and when Fever defender Olivia Lewis came up with an intercept Jhaniele Fowler was quick to punish the Premiers’ mistakes and put five goals between the sides.
The Fever stretched their advantage to 10 after confusion in the Swifts’ attacking end and both Fowler and Teague-Neeld were starting to look equally comfortable under the post and from range. Play got scrappy for a while but it was Housby who had the final say of the half, sinking a Super Shot to leave eight between the sides at the big break – 41-33.
Massive defence from Sarah Klau and Moore engineered a host of turnovers which quickly had the Swifts back in the game early in the third quarter. There was much more rhythm to their play and Sophie Garbin – on for Wallace – was working well in tandem with Housby. Midway through the period NSW were back level terms with teams tied at 46-all.
From there the Swifts took control of the contest, pouncing on loose possession and connecting well at both ends of the court. Captain Maddy Proud was finding her targets in the goal circle, and the shooting duo continued to gel.
Housby sank a pair of Super Shots in the final period of the play but it was the accuracy and power of Garbin that really helped keep the scoreboard ticking over. The Swifts won the quarter 27-11 - Garbin scoring 23 of them - to take a seven-goal lead to the last break.
They did a good job of keeping the Fever at bay for most of the final quarter but when the last Power Five started Fowler stepped up to shoot West Coast right back into the game.
In the space of five minutes they had gone from eight down leveling the scores.
With the 30 seconds on the clock the Swifts had a centre pass to retake the lead, and played it out to run clock down. With six seconds remaining Housby landed the winning goal, leaving no time for Fever to respond.
Quarter by Quarter Scores
SWIFTS | Q1: 18, Q2: 33 (15), 60 (27), 73 (13)
FEVER | Q1: 20, Q2: (21), 52 (11), 72 (20)
Starting Teams
SWIFTS | GS Sam Wallace, GA Helen Housby, WA Natalie Haythornthwaite, C Paige Hadley, WD Sophie Craig, GD Lauren Moore, GK Sarah Klau
Reserves used: Maddy Proud, Sophie Garbin, Nic Styles, Tayla Fraser.
FEVER | GS Jhaniele Fowler, GA Alice Teague-Neeld, WA Ingrid Coyler, C Verity Charles, WD Jessica Anstiss, GD Stacey Francis, GK Olivia Lewis
MVP: Sophie Garbin (Swifts)
Match Stats: View full match stats here
