The NSW Swifts’ winless run has continued after they went down 77-66 to the Queensland Firebirds at Nissan Arena in Brisbane on Saturday evening.
Without a Suncorp Super Netball win since Round 2, the Swifts were in control of this Round 6 clash at halftime but strong a third quarter from the hosts proved to be the major turning point in a compelling contest.
The 11-goal winning margin did little to reflect how close this game was. It was only midway through the final quarter that the Firebirds grabbed full control and the Swifts had to take big risks to chase down them down.
The Swifts led by five at the main break but a 20-14 quarter in favour of the Firebirds in the third swung everything in their favour and NSW could never wrestle the game back.
It means the Swifts now sit two wins outside the chasing pack for the playoffs with the regular season reaching the halfway point at next Saturday’s ANZAC Day Derby against the Giants at Ken Rosewall Arena, which looms as a must-win for the seven-time Premiers.
Both sides came into the contest missing a host of star quality. The Swifts were without double Premiership champions Helen Housby and Sarah Klau, while the Queenslanders had Maddy Gordon, Imogen Allison and Macy Gardner on the sidelines.
The teams traded goals early in the opening quarter, but the Swifts failed to convert two possession gains which could have the given them the early impetus.
Swifts head coach Briony Akle called a timeout where she enforced the message of turnover conversion and when Teigan O’Shannassy got a nice tip off a Mary Cholhok miss Grace Nweke (who shot at 53 goals at 95% accuracy) was on hand to give NSW a two-goal lead.
That lead increased to seven two minutes before the first break but an offensive contact against Tayla Fraser allowed the Firebirds stay well in touch at quarter time (20-16).
Good scrapping on the ground by O’Shannassy enabled the Swifts extend the lead to seven goals again midway through the second quarter and they held that advantage as the second Power Five period of the evening started.
Queensland then made the decision to move Australian Diamond defender Ruby Bakewell-Doran back to goal defence to handle Grace Whyte who continued to look clam and composed at Super Netball level, growing her connection with Nweke in the absence of Housby.
The Firebirds called a timeout and while they made plenty of errors which could have let the Swifts build a huge advantage, three Super Shots from Te Paea Selby-Rickit kept them in the hunt, just five goals in arrears at halftime (42-37).
The Swifts got off to a poor start in the second half when a held ball call against Nweke and an offside off the centre pass that followed allowed the Firebirds get back within one.
That was compounded when Kelly Jackon rejected a Whyte attempt and before long it was the hosts who led for the first time.
A Whyte Super Shot double briefly had the Swifts back in front but Bakewell-Doran came up with a big intercept to edge the hosts back in front and they led by one at the final break (56-57).
The momentum was with the Queenslanders and with a full home stadium behind them they rallied well.
Back-to-back defensive plays from Jackson gave the Firebirds the bonus possession they needed open up a six-goal lead midway through the last period, which in the context of the game was huge.
And Jackson would continue to be a thorn in the Swifts’ side for rest of the game as they chased the contest.
Having to throw caution to the win, the Firebirds' defence read the Swifts well and while the margin of victory was not reflective of the game it will matter little to the Queenslanders.
