Tables turned as favourites face big questions; Firebirds star shines in thrashing: Super Netball Wrap
The tables turned at Saturday night’s Super Netball clash, as the Melbourne Vixens stole the Sargeant McKinnis Cup from 2021 holders and Super Netball champions, the NSW Swifts.
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The tables turned at Saturday night’s Super Netball clash, as the Melbourne Vixens stole the Sargeant McKinnis Cup from 2021 holders and Super Netball champions, the NSW Swifts.
The final result raises questions for NSW Swifts championship winning coach Briony Akle, as the season favourites went down 53-48. It was their straight loss to start the season.
It was the visitors who got the jump on the reigning champions in the first quarter, with high energy play from the get-go at the Ken Rosewall Arena.
With a final score of 14 goals against their opponents 9, the Vixens were quick to capitalise on early uncharacteristic errors from the Swifts.
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The Swifts midcourt with the likes of Tayla Fraser, Maddy Proud and Allie Smith, were able to keep the team in the quarter contest with their intense pressure and hunger to turn over the ball.
Vixens star shooter Mwai Kumwenda banked 13 goals out of fourteen attempts in the first quarter, proving unphased by the experienced Swift’s defensive combination of Sarah Klau and Maddy Turner.
On the other end of the court, all eyes were on Swifts’ championship winning shooter Helen Housby who was left without her usual companion in the circle, shooting ace Sam Wallace.
Wallace suffered a devastating Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear in the Swifts’ round one grand final rematch against the GWS Giants, ending her season, almost before it even began.
Initially, Housby appeared out of her usual groove with untypical misses at goal in the first quarter however it didn’t take long for the international icon to prove why she has earnt the title as one of netball’s most dominant shooters, closing out the half with a total
of 16 goals.
The NSW Swifts fans at Ken Rosewall arena erupted as the Wagga Wagga prodigy, Sophie Fawns entered the court and made her debut for the side in the second.
Fawns, 18, asserted dominance early in the GA position, nailing her first and second shots.
The excitement from the crowd continued as Sutherland junior Lili Gorman-Brown (22) entered the court after a time out call for the Swifts in the C and then WA position.
Gorman-Brown was a last minute debutant and replacement for Swifts captain Paige Hadley, who was ruled out of the match with Covid-19.
The Vixens continued to pull out in front, finishing the first half with a lead of thirteen goals over the Swifts.
In the second half, the Swifts were able to fight back, with Fawns and Housby ‘super-shooting’ to close the gap to just 11 goals at the end of the third quarter, leaving the sea of red, white and blue in the stands optimistic heading into the final term.
The 2021 Super Netball champions fought hard in the final quarter, bringing the margin down to just three goals and fans on their feet, but could not hang on as the clock wound down.
The Vixens ended the match 53 goals to the Swifts 48.
COOL CALM KUMWENDA
Despite persistent efforts and continuous pressure from Swifts’ defenders Sarah Klau and Maddy Turner, the Vixens’ Mwai Kumwenda could just not be contained.
Kumwenda was everywhere, working the baseline, providing an option out of the circle and constantly on the move.
Kumwenda’s success in the shooting circle resulted from strong body positioning and silky smooth links with GA Rahni Samason and a powerful midcourt.
DEBUTANT’S DAY
It was the Swifts’ youngster Sophie Fawns, 18, that stole the show and the heart of the crowd at Ken Rosewall Arena on Saturday night.
The debutant from Wagga Wagga made a splash in the second quarter in the GS position and kept her momentum for the remainder of the game, leading the charge in the final quarter.
Finishing with a total of 15 goals, supporting and linking particularly well with the experienced Housby, it is safe to say this certainly won’t be the only time fans will see the junior shooters face this season.
The rookie showed unmatched accuracy, particularly in the high pressure moments of the game. Will Fawns get much sleep tonight after that unforgettable moment? Highly doubtful.
EXPERIENCE PAYS OFF
The experience and physical pressure of Vixens stars captains Kate Maloney and Liz Watson, and defensive demon Jo Weston proved too strong for the Swifts.
Watson in particular led the charge, and the game as a whole with a whopping 34 goal assists and 35 feeds.
The trio linked well with their new GA and ex GWS Giants player Kiera Austin as well as GS Mwai Kumwenda.
MADDY SHOULD BE PROUD
A stand out for the Swifts in round two was their skipper Maddy Proud. The team leader locked in a whopping total of 39 feeds and 21 goal assists.
GOALS
SWIFTS:
Housby 24/33, Fawns 15/18, Singleton 3/3
VIXENS:
Kumenda 41/44, Samason 7/11, Austin 2/3
FIREBIRDS THRASH LIGHTNING
Just five, that is how many of her 50 shots sharp shooter Donnell Wallam missed in Firebirds convincing win over Queensland rivals Lightning.
Wallam, in just her second Super Netball game proved a handful for the Sunshine Coast defenders netting 45 goals and four super shots, to help the Firebirds to a 82-54 win, their first for the season.
The final score doesn’t reflect how close the first quarter was - with just two points separating the teams - it was the Firebirds who had to fight back after going down midway through the quarter.
But they didn’t give up the lead again. Wallam netted all of her 10 shots
and her two super shot attempts to help Firebirds go into the first break ahead 18-16.
Lightning were also accurate in the circle, missing just three shots.
Firebirds started the second quarter with renewed determination, tightening up the defence and quickly surging ahead of their Queensland rivals.
Goal defender Ruby Bakewell-Doran, in her first game as a Firebirds first team player, and keeper Eboni Usoro-Brown found their rhythm in the second quarter - making it difficult for Lightning’s Cara Koenen and Reilley Batcheldor to claw back some much needed points.
Sunshine Coast’s goal keeper Kadie-Ann Dehaney worked hard, in front of a sell-out home crowd, but being marked up against Wallam was no easy task.
Wallam netted another 17 goals in the second quarter, missing just two. One of the shots she did miss she went on to collect the rebound and find the goal.
Lightning struggled to keep possession in the first 30 minutes with 17 turnovers to Firebirds seven.
By the end of the first half Firebirds had extended the lead to 40-26.
Lightning tried to strike back in the third netting 13 shots but they were unable to stop the goal scoring duo of Wallam and Gretel Bueta at the other end.
Possession was fairly even with Lighting have had 49 per cent and Firebirds 51 per cent - the major difference was the away side’s ability to convert possession into points.
Wallam scored another two super shots, while Lightning had missed all but one of their six attempts.
Firebirds went into the final quarter with a 20 point lead.
Despite making several changes to their line up, including swapping out Wallam for Mia Stower and Blakewell-Doran making way for Kim Jenner, Firebirds continued to control the game.
Firebirds Lara Dunkley was a quiet achiever with 32 goal assists.
The game finished with Firebirds ahead 82-54.
Originally published as Tables turned as favourites face big questions; Firebirds star shines in thrashing: Super Netball Wrap
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