After a one-year absence the NSW Swifts are back in the Suncorp Super Netball Final Series following a stunning 70-62 win over the Melbourne Vixens at John Cain Arena today.
In front a full house of passionate Victorian netball fans, the Swifts produced dominant second and third quarters to take a 16-goal lead to the final break and despite an expected fightback from their long-time rivals the seven-time Premiers had done enough to seal the win before the final Power Five of the day.
It means the Swifts stay in the competition top-two, level on points with the Adelaide Thunderbirds but just behind them on goal percentage.
The playoffs are now a mathematical certainty with three regular-season games to go meaning NSW will turn their attention to the Minor Premiership ahead of the Finals Series.
Next week will see the Swifts play in front of another capacity crowd, this time their own fans, when they host the Giants at Ken Rosewall Arena.
Sunday’s win, their seventh in a row, also means the Sargeant-McKinnis Cup returns to NSW with the Swifts winning both round robin clashes between the Clubs.
A Liz Watson intercept was the only difference between the sides in the pulsating opening exchanges and midway through the first quarter the hosts led by two goals.
Kate Moloney hustled well to earn bonus possession for the Vixens at the start of the first Power Five and when Mwai Kumwenda scored it forced Swifts head coach Briony Akle to call her first timeout. That was the changing point in the match.
Sophie Fawns entered to give Romelda Aiken-George a breather and the Wagga Wagga junior was quick to make her mark. She scored three Super Shots, one from a Tayla Fraser gain, to give NSW a three-goal lead at quarter time.
A Maddy Proud overthrow, when she was looking for Aiken-George, gave the Victorians the opportunity to quickly get back on level terms and when the Jamaican shooter was pinged for an offensive contact the Vixens edged ahead.
But Akle called her second timeout to stem the four-goal run her side conceded and they responded to score the next eight (including a Housby Super Shot).
Three minutes from halftime Vixens coach Simone McKinnis called her own timeout with Melbourne goals in arrears (33-27) but they could not make inroads into the visitors’ advantage.
Fawns showed maturity beyond her years to score another three Super Shots, and while Keira Austin and Kumwenda displayed good accuracy from range too, it was NSW who took a seven-goal lead to the sheds.
A Maddy Turner rebound and a stepping call against Kumwenda allowed the Swifts to open up a 10-goal lead five minutes into the second half.
It was a period that the Swifts would dominate. Turner and Sarah Klau really started to hit their stride in defence while Fraser, Paige Hadley and Maddy Proud continued to be a thorn in the side of the Vixens’ midcourt.
Fawns made another impressive Super Shot cameo and at the final break the Swifts led by 16 with game MVP Housby also looking imperious at times.
The Vixens did make the Swifts uncomfortable in the fourth quarter, however, a powerful eight-goal run didn’t come until midway through the period. By that stage the Swifts just needed to keep calm and they did.
Quarter by Quarter Scores
Q1: Swifts 18 Vixens 15
Q2: Swifts 39 Vixens 32 (21-17)
Q3: Swifts 59 Vixens 43 (20-11)
Q4: Swifts 70 Vixens 62 (11-19)
Swifts Stating 7: GS Romelda Aiken-George, GA Helen Housby, WA Maddy Proud, C Paige Hadley, WD Tayla Fraser, GD Maddy Turner, GK Sarah Klau.
Reserves: Sophie Fawns, Kelea Iongi, Lili Gorman-Brown
Full Match Stats: View HERE