A dominant third quarter from the NSW Swifts has seen them secure a comfortable 13 goal win in the first local derby of the season against Giants on Sunday afternoon.
Coming in to the game on a five match winning streak, the Swifts tinkered with their lineup from last week’s win over the Vixens as Teigan O’Shannassy and Verity Simmons started, while the 1-4 Giants were strengthened by the return of co-captain Jo Harten who missed last week for parental reasons.
As is customary for a NSW Derby, both teams came out playing physical and entertaining netball, trading goals early on. The Giants defence of Erin O’Brien and Jodi-Ann Ward attempted to minimise the impact of Swifts shooting star Grace Nweke by double teaming her, and at one stage midway through the quarter it led to the two teammates colliding with Ward momentarily limping.
A few minutes later, it was Swifts skipper Paige Hadley on the floor after being accidentally barrelled over by her Australian teammate Sophie Dwyer, but the Diamonds vice captain was straight back to her feet.
In a tightly fought quarter, English star Helen Housby stepped up and nailed a late Super Shot to give the Swifts a three goal lead, before Dwyer timed her own two point shot to perfection before the siren to make the margin just one.
Swifts coach Briony Akle brought on Sharni Lambden to start the section half as the battle continued between the two teams. In her return after missing Giants’ loss to Lightning last week, Jo Harten was using all her experience and gamesmanship in the shooting circle to provide a strong target, and the Giants midcourt responded, with a disciplined first half and less than half the amount of turnovers they recorded at the same time a week ago.
Teigan O’Shannassy returned to the court for the Swifts as the second quarter Super Shot period approached in another close fought quarter, before a couple of internationals tried to put their mark on the game. Helen Housby’s two point shot, followed by a converted late turnover, saw the Swifts jumped out to what was a game high four goal lead, before Housby’s longtime England teammate Jo Harten hit a Super Shot of her own to keep Giants in touch. The pair then traded two more long range shots to close the half with the Swifts holding a three goal lead.
There was a clear shift in defensive intensity by the Swifts to start the second half. It may have been the introduction of the in-form Allie Smith to Centre with Paige Hadley switching to Wing Attack, but the whatever the reason, the Swifts opened the third quarter with a momentum-swinging 7-2 run. It prompted Giants coach Julie Fitzpatrick to call a timeout and make a change as Amy Sligar and Jamie-Lee Price switched midcourt positions.
The Swifts slowly increased their lead, and sensing more change was needed before the scoreline got out of control, coach Fitzgerald brought on Matisse Letherbarrow for Harten as the third quarter Super Shot period approached. However it was Housby doing the most damage with the two point shot, landing her fourth and fifth of the game to stretch the margin to double figures, the Swifts winning the quarter 22-13.
The team in orange managed to stick with the Swifts throughout the final quarter as Maddie Hay returned to the Giants midcourt, but they were unable to make a meaningful reduction to the margin. As the time wound down, Swifts coach Akle gave superstar shooter Grace Nweke an early mark after amassing 64/67 goals, with young pathway player Grace Whyte coming on at shooter and immediately nailing a Super Shot of her own, to the delight of her teammates on the bench.
Post game, HER WAY asked Swifts coach Briony Akle to what she attributed the third quarter push from her team:
“These kind of games can be a grind, and just reminding ourselves about our own strengths and playing to our strengths instead of worrying about what they’re going to do against us. Just being more clinical, having two options to a ball - all the netball cliches. I feel like they came out more determined than ever in the third quarter.”
Co-captain Paige Hadley added that she was happy with the team’s performance across the whole game, saying, “I think we won every quarter even though it wasn’t huge wins, to be able to build over those four quarters and finish off was really good.”
The undefeated Swifts will next weekend travel to Queensland to take on Sunshine Coast, while the Giants have a tough task hosting the in-form West Coast Fever.