The NSW Swifts’ Suncorp Super Netball winning run is at an end after the Adelaide Thunderbirds came out on top 60-57 in a pulsating Round 14 clash at Ken Rosewall Arena.
With top-spot and hosting rights for next week’s Major Semi Final already secured, the Swifts fell just short in a contest that ebbed and flowed from start to finish.
Despite a patchy display the seven-time Premiers came close to continuing their win-streak, but the final Power Five proved to be the thrilling endgame the contest deserved.
Adelaide came out of it the better with England shooter Eleanor Cardwell landing a Super Shot double. NSW, in contrast, saw attempts from Sophie Fawns and Helen Housby rattle the rim, and with Shamera Sterling and MVP Latanya Wilson quick to pounce on the rebounds, the Thunderbirds did enough to secure their first win in Sydney of the Super Netball era.
Should West Coast Fever beat the Collingwood Magpies in the evening’s other game it would mean the Swifts will host the West Australians in next weekend’s Major Semi Final.
However, should the Fever lose that game it means the Thunderbirds return to Sydney next week to face NSW again.
Up by three after the opening exchanges the Swifts seemed to have the Thunderbirds rattled early on, however, the long limbs of Wilson quickly secured turnover possession to get the visitors back on level terms.
The Swifts’ path to the post looked tricky to negotiate, however, in Romelda Aiken-George – who notched up her 8000th National League goal with her first of the night – NSW had a solid target to aim for.
In the first Power Five Fawns and Housby were on target with two-pointers to put the Swifts up by five and force the Thunderbirds into the first timeout of the game.
It settled the South Australians who were aided by a Tippah Dwan Super Shot and a good hustle by Sterling and Wilson for bonus ball in the Swifts attack end, but at quarter-time it was NSW who led 16-14.
A hard midcourt press at the start of the second quarter in which Wilson and Georgie Horjus came up with big plays allowed the Thunderbirds take the lead for the first time. In a turnaround from the first period, this time it was the home team who looked a little rattled. Their path down court was often slow and Aiken-George’s supply of possession quickly dried up.
Sarah Klau and Maddy Turner were doing good jobs of keeping the Adelaide attack of Cardwell, Dwan and Lucy Austin on their toes but the up-court gains were also providing the visitors with a host of additional opportunities.
Fawns and Housby were on target again from range in the second Power Five but Cardwell responded on the halftime buzzer to send Adelaide to the sheds with a three-goal advantage (32-29).
While Sterling was a menace every time the Swifts were looking to feed Aiken-George, the Swifts slowly started to find their way back into the game in the third quarter. Kelea Iongi came on at goal keeper with Klau and Turner moving to goal defence and wing defence respectively.
Just before the third Power Five the Swifts were back on level terms but the end of the period was a topsy-turvy affair with neither side able to a take a firm grip of the contest, and as the teams headed for the last break they were tied at 42-all.
There was little in it at the death, but this time out it was Adelaide who had enough to win – just.
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