‘Outrageous scenes’: Teen steals one-point thriller as NSW Swifts book Grand Final spot

The NSW Swifts are into the Super Netball Grand Final after their teen sensation helped them pull off a miracle comeback victory.

The Swifts are into the Super Netball Grand Final after pulling off a thriller. (Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images)

The NSW Swifts are into the Super Netball final after pulling off a miracle 65-64 comeback win over the West Coast Fever in the preliminary final.

The Fever led the game from the 10-minute mark of the first quarter until the last three minutes of the game before the Swifts snatched victory and ended the Fever’s season.

Watch Super Netball Preliminary Finals Free & Live between NSW Swifts v West Coast Fever Saturday 7PM AEST on Kayo Freebies. Join now and start streaming instantly

With goal attack Helen Housby not as lethal as usual from long range, Sophie Fawns came off the bench to nail 7 of 11 Super Shots and was the matchwinner for the Swifts.

Fawns shot three Super Shots, worth two points each, in the last quarter to give the Swifts the lead before Jhaniele Fowler tied things up at 64-64 with a minute to go.

The Swifts then milked the clock to maintain possession and Fawns shot a one-point goal as the full-time buzzer sounded.

Absolute scenes. (Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images)

It was a remarkable performance given 19-year-old Fawns is the Swifts’ least experienced player and she bounced back after coming on in the Swifts’ extra time loss to the Adelaide Thunderbirds and not shooting a goal.

“Sophie Fawns, take a bow,” Fever premiership player Stacey Francis-Bayman said on Fox Netball.

WHAT. A. FINISH. 🤯🤯🤯

The NSW Swifts beat the Fever after trailing for almost the entirety of the game!!!

📺 Watch #SSNFinals on @Foxtel CH 505 or stream via @kayosportspic.twitter.com/EEms61qBvl

— Fox Netball (@fox_netball) July 1, 2023

Sophie Fawns tho. ICE #SWIvFEV

— Will McCloy (@will_mccloy) July 1, 2023

WOW.
what a game.

Fawns.. match winning performance
Bruce… outstanding

Absolutely Shattered for the @WestCoastFever girls

— Nat Medhurst (@natmedhurst) July 1, 2023

West Coast’s Super Shot specialist Sasha Glasgow’s impact was limited, and Fever coach Dan Ryan benched her for Emma Cosh midway through the last quarter.

“Outrageous scenes,” Francis-Bayman said in reaction to the substitution.

Goal keeper Courtney Bruce was immense for Fever with 12 gains, but it wasn’t quite enough to get her side over the line.

The Swifts are headed to the Grand Final. (Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images)

It’s the second time this year the Swifts have defeated the Fever by one point at the death and the result ends West Coast’s bid for back-to-back Super Netball titles.

The Swifts will now face the Adelaide Thunderbirds in Melbourne next Saturday in their third grand final in five years as they look to add to premierships won in 2019 and 2021.

It will be the third clash between the sides in four weeks, and the Swifts will have to turn the tables after Thunderbirds won their last two meetings.

The Thunderbirds haven’t won a premiership in the Super Netball era and are aiming to clinch their first domestic netball premiership since their last finals campaign back in 2013.

Originally published as ‘Outrageous scenes’: Teen steals one-point thriller as NSW Swifts book Grand Final spot