Super Netball: NSW Swifts shooting to end ‘frustrating’ trend

Rising shooter Sophie Garbin believes her NSW Swifts can put an end to a “frustrating” trend in their recent performances when they play Adelaide Thunderbirds in Cairns on Saturday.

SUNSHINE COAST, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 08: Sophie Garbin of the Swifts shoots during the round 11 Super Netball match between the NSW Swifts and the Melbourne Vixens at University of Sunshine Coast Stadium on September 08, 2020 in Sunshine Coast, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Rising shooter Sophie Garbin believes her NSW Swifts can put an end to a “frustrating” trend in their recent performances when they play Adelaide Thunderbirds in Cairns on Saturday afternoon.

The Swifts started the season as one of Super Netball’s dominant teams, winning six of their first seven games, but have since won just one from their past five outings.

Despite the recent results, Garbin was adamant the side was playing its best netball of the season.

“It’s frustrating because, at the start of the season, we weren’t actually playing our best netball but we were still getting the wins,” she said.

The West Coast Fever, GIANTS Netball, NSW Swifts and Adelaide Thunderbirds land in Cairns ahead of their Suncorp Super Netball Indigenous Round matches at Cairns Pop Up Arena on Saturday. GIANTS' Kristiana Manu'a, Swifts' Paige Hadley, Fever's Courtney Bruce and Thunderbirds' Hannah Petty in their Indigenous Round dresses in Cairns. PICTURE: STEWART McLEAN

“Now we’re actually playing some pretty good netball but we haven’t been able, just in those clutch moments, to get over the line and get the win.

“It’s happened the last couple of times we’ve been able to come back in games and push ahead with the score.

“We’ve thrown the ball away or have come up with unforced errors and the level of competition is so high you can’t afford to do that.

“It’s frustrating but, at the same time, it’s good to know that we don’t have to go into crisis mode because we are playing good netball, we just need to tweak and change a few things to get those wins.”

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Garbin said the side would be looking to turn around the worrying trend against the Thunderbirds.

“We haven’t locked a finals spot up, so we just want to focus on us, take the pressure off and just play a good 60 minutes of netball, which I don’t think we’ve been able to do yet this season,” she said.

“I don’t think second-last really reflects their (Adelaide Thunderbids) season. They’ve beaten the Vixens, who just secured the minor premiership, and they have internationals all over the court.

“They’ll definitely be playing for pride and to finish their season on a high.

Originally published as Super Netball: NSW Swifts shooting to end ‘frustrating’ trend