The NSW Swifts have broken through for their first victory of the Super Netball season after charging home in the fourth quarter to defeat Queensland Firebirds 74-71 and celebrate veteran Romelda Aiken-George’s 200th national league appearance.
The Swifts entered Saturday’s contest at Ken Rosewall Arena on two competition points following an opening-round loss to Collingwood and a controversial draw in Adelaide where a series of delays resulted in the match being abandoned at half time.
Queensland provided a serious challenge to the Swifts with goal shooter Donnell Wallam’s dominance under the post setting up a 40-37 buffer for the visitors at half time.
But the Swifts stepped up defensively in the final quarter to swing the result in their favour, captain Maddy Proud leading by example with a series of clutch plays to help her side disrupt Wallam’s momentum.
“We knew we had to put the pressure on higher up in the court, we couldn’t just leave it to the couple in the circle, so I think that full-court pressure is what got us over the line here,” Proud said after NSW outscored the Firebirds by six goals in the second half.
The result was a positive for new Swifts goal shooter Aiken-George with the 34-year-old Jamaican reaching the milestone against the club she represented for 197 games, including three championships, after moving to Queensland in 2008.
“I think Romelda said this is the first milestone game she’s ever won. So we’re just so bloody happy that it’s in the red and we love her in these colours, we said that she’s a Swift for life now,” Proud said about Aiken-George, who returned to the game following the birth of her daughter last year.
A fast start from Aiken-George helped the Swifts skip out to an early three-goal advantage but Wallam responded by making her first 20 shots in a row, her only miss coming from two-point range as she attempted to break a 20-20 deadlock in the dying seconds of the opening quarter.
With midcourt duo Lara Dunkley and Kim Ravaillion providing slick service to Wallan in the goal circle, the Firebirds continued their charge in the second period as the visitors inched ahead by three goals at half time, Helen Housby keeping NSW in touch with a run of three Super shots.
Luck appeared to be on Queensland’s side after the main break when Donnell sank a spectacular no-look one-handed toss falling out of court but Housby converted a penalty as the third quarter expired to cut the Firebirds’ advantage to 58-57.
Loose play from Queensland and Housby’s finishing resulted in a 6-2 start to the final quarter and the Swifts maintained their defensive intensity to leave the Firebirds winless after three games.
Thunderbirds dominate Lightning on Sunshine Coast
In the late match, Adelaide Thunderbirds sounded a warning to the rest of the competition after a dominant 66-42 victory over the previously undefeated Sunshine Coast Lightning.
The Lightning entered the clash at UniSC Arena on top of the ladder following double-digit wins over the Giants and state rivals Queensland Firebirds but were overwhelmed by a rampant Thunderbirds side that looked a class above for the majority of the night.
Coming off a seventh-placed finish last season, the revamped Thunderbirds have yet to taste defeat in 2023 with the addition of English goaler Eleanor Cardwell and the development of local talent Georgie Horjus and Tayla Williams bolstering a squad already containing elite Jamaican goal keeper Shamera Sterling.
A blazing finish to the first half handed Adelaide a comprehensive 35-22 lead and the home side were unable to claw their way back into the contest as the visitors completely shut down the Lightning’s attacking options on the way to winning every quarter.
“I just felt we were all really connected throughout the whole 60 minutes,” Cardwell told Fox Sports after the Thunderbirds’ resounding victory.
“We’ve been struggling to get that start for the past two weeks so I’m really proud of the girls being able to grind out that win and put some goals on the board.”
Cardwell powered Adelaide’s attack with 51 goals at almost 95 per cent accuracy and Williams (34 feeds, 19 goal assists) impressed in midcourt, while defender Matilda Garrett combined with Sterling to collect 12 gains and seven interceptions.
“The culture that these girls have is amazing, they’ve made it super easy for me to slip into the team,” Cardwell said about her experience since arriving in Adelaide from English Superleague team Manchester Thunder.
“They’re just the most amazing group. I couldn’t be happier with the girls that are on my team.”
The Thunderbirds closed a tightly contested opening quarter with a late burst of goals to edge ahead 16-12 then pounced late in the second term with Cardwell closing the half on a run of six consecutive goals, including a Super shot, to leave Sunshine Coast trailing by 13 at the main break.
The halftime deficit could have been far greater if not for the efforts of Kadie-Ann Dehaney in defence but a tally of 13 turnovers, seven of those unforced, from the home side contributed to Adelaide’s success.
First-year coach Belinda Reynolds tried various combinations throughout the second half as the Lightning battled to halt Adelaide’s momentum but the visitors cruised to an unassailable 50-33 buffer after three quarters.
AAP
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