Wounded Swifts emerge from firefight against Fever with two crucial points
THEY went into the game minus their two senior stalwarts but the Swifts emerged from a physical battle against the Fever with two of their most important points of the season.
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THEY went into the game minus their two senior stalwarts but the NSW Swifts emerged from a torrid and physical battle with West Coast Fever with two of their most important points of Super Netball season in Sydney on Friday night.
With captain Abbey McCulloch and fellow midcourter Paige Hadley watching injured from the stands, the least experienced team in the competition pulled off a stirring comeback for the crucial 50-48 victory at Sydney Olympic Park.
Trailing by seven in the third period, the youngest side in Super Netball rallied to pull off a nine point turnaround, averting a nasty fall to second last on the league ladder.
“I think as a young group we are actually better when we come from behind and get to show our fight. We have a lot of fight,” said defender Maddy Turner, who with game MVP Sarah Klau played an outstanding game in the circle.
“We never gave up. We just kept chipping and chipping away.
“As a group we knew we had to rally.
“We knew what was on the line. We don’t want to finish second last. We know we are better than that after taking it to the top teams this year.”
The Swifts have a tough run to the finish of the inaugural season of Super Netball with matches against the Magpies, Lighting and the Firebirds.
But Fever has an equally difficult run to the end of the preliminary season, meaning it is likely the Swifts will remain above the Perth-based side on the league ladder.
The Swifts came out sure and hard in the first quarter, quickly racking up a six goal lead before Fever retaliated.
By the first break Fever were back within two of the young Swifts side with Sam Wallace rock solid in the circle with 10 from 10 for the hosts.
But by halftime the scores were level with the Swifts fading in the third to go into the final period trailing by five.
With just five minutes remaining on the clock the Swifts managed to level the score with more solid shooting from Wallace and circle partner Helen Housby securing them the win.
Wallace topscored in the match with 35 from 39 with Housby netting 15 from 18.
On Sunday the Giants travel to Adelaide to take on the last-placed Thunderbirds in the final match of round 11.
NSW SWIFTS (50) DEFEATED WEST COAST FEVER (48)
Swifts shooting statistics
Sam Wallace 35/39 (90%)
Helen Housby 15/18 (83%)
Fever shooting statistics
Kaylia Stanton 33/43 (77%)
Nat Medhurst 15/18 (83%)
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