By Phina Newton
Heading into this game, the NSW Swifts were coming off a week’s break and the QLD Firebirds were rearing to go and ready to make amends for their loss to the Sunshine Coast Lightning. An evenly matched two teams, this game was certainly up for the taking.
The Swifts began the game with a patient style of play, but an early turnover allowed the Firebirds to claim a quick 2-0 start through both Mary Cholhok and Emily Moore. Down the other end it was Grace Nweke who got the Swifts campaign underway, she claimed the goal circle as her own and was the obvious target under the post.
The Firebirds struggled to find an answer for her, the Swifts playing quick to goal through only one or two phases. Their speed was evident on the defensive end too, as they tried to shut out Cholhok and force Moore to create more movement.
Emily Moore held her own in the goal circle.Moore proved ready, nailing the sole super shot of the quarter, a feat Housby failed to meet. The Swifts trailed by three at the first break.
The second quarter began with an incredible ball over from Verity Simmons to Nweke, bringing life to the Swifts fans and summoning some energy to the team.
It was all Swifts for the start of this quarter, making the most of a couple of turnovers from the Firebirds, they brought the score back and found themselves with a one-goal lead – forcing their opponents to call a timeout.
What followed was a messy period for both teams, a flurry of turnovers from either side meant that nobody capitalised on the other's mistakes.
After a sloppy start, the Firebirds were able to swing the momentum back and despite Sarah Klau’s best efforts, the 201cm goal shooter in Cholhok continued to find ways to score – even if it was off rebounding her own misses!
After being tied at half-time, it was the Swifts who took control in the third quarter. Klau's tireless hard work all game was finally rewarded with an intercept, firing up her team.
Sarah Klau never gave up against Mary Cholhok.At first, they managed to gain a six-goal lead, but soon enough, the power five siren rang and Housby scored her second and then third super shot. The Firebirds, on the other hand, chose not to go from long and trailed by ten leading into the final term.
In terms of general game-play, the Firebirds weren’t out of the contest, but the challenge was going to be clawing their way back from their biggest deficit of the game.
With Moore on the bench, they lacked energy around the goals and just didn’t have the movement needed to get easy scores.
While the lead continues to billow out for the Swifts, the Firebirds made several subs, Kiri Wills just looking for the combination that could make things happen.
With the final power five of the game underway, Moore was put back on and the Swifts double-teamed her, forcing the Firebirds to either waste time or just go for the one. Even a rare super shot from Cholhok couldn’t bring the Firebirds back, it was too little too late, the Swifts finishing out the game up by eight goals.
