NSW Swifts crush Giants to claim derby bragging rights as Sam Wallace fires
Maybe it was the twerking in the tunnel to settle her nerves. Or the thumbs up from her sick father. Whatever it was, Swifts shooter Sam Wallace bough a special magic to the court on Sunday
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Maybe it was the twerking in the tunnel to settle her nerves. Or the thumbs up from her sick father back in Trinidad via Facetim before the game.
Whatever it was international sharpshooter Sam Wallace bough a special magic to the court on Sunday as the NSW Swifts recorded their biggest victory over the Giants in Super Netball history.
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Wallace’s showstopping haul of 46 goals from 49 attempts (94 per cent) paved the way for the Swifts surprisingly convincing 63-56 win in round one of the competition against cross town rivals, the Giants, at Qudos Bank Arena.
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“It came from my heart. I wanted to do my dad proud,” said a tearful Wallace of her father Hendrickson who suffered two strokes over Easter and has been impacted on his left and right side.
“The team has put their arm around me in a giant hug (since the stroke). I love them all. No one else except them knew about this.
“He said ‘you play, make me proud, don’t come home’ but I wanted to come home.
“My two brothers are holding the fort so he is happy for me (to stay and play) so I am happy if he’s happy.”
While Wallace played for her father and the team that has supported her through recent tough times, the Swifts at large played for pride.
“They wanted to make a big impact at the start of the season and they’ve done that,” said coach Briony Akle whose team won in front of a crown of 8726.
“It took a while for us to get our mojo because there were a few nerves but once things settled they looked good.
The Giants had hoped it would be the Cailtin Bassett show with the Diamond captain playing her first game in orange after a pre-season interrupted by a fractured forearm.
But instead it was Wallace’s accuracy and volume which proved the different although Bassett’s debut for the Giants after just one pre-season game was still memorable as she contributed 28 from 36.
For their efforts the Swifts also picked up a swag of bonus points for winning three of the four quarters.
The Swifts claimed the first bonus points of the game with a 14-12 opening period which also saw young Giant Maddie Hay make her Super Netball debut as a brief injury replacement for Jamie-Lee Price.
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The Giants took the lead for the first time at the 20 minute mark before taking the second quarter 18-14 for a 30-28 halftime lead.
The speed picked up in the third with Wallace producing a 14-goal haul which put the Swifts back in control at 46-44 heading into the final 15 minutes.
Wallace continued to lead by example with the Swifts running out convincing winners despite missing key England midcourter Natalie Haythornthwaite with a hamstring injury and defender Kate Eddy with a groin issue.
The first round has helped write the early form guide for the season with three teams - the Vixens, Magpies and
Swifts - claiming early favouritism to make the top four.
Missing from the early tipping are defending champions Sunshine Coast Lightning after the rejigged side crashed to their worst loss in Super Netball history with their 57-43 defeat at the hands of the Magpies.
It was the lowest score ever recorded by the two-time champions.
The Vixens were equally emphatic on Saturday in announcing their intentions for the season with a 73-61 win over the Queensland Firebirds.
Key to their success was Vixens shooter Caitlin Thwaites’ impressive haul of 50 goals from 51 attempts.
The Vixens on Sunday will host the Giants in the second round of the season.
