Standout performances from Swifts defenders Maddy Turner and Sarah Klau proved the difference in the 63-56 win, with the much-vaunted new Giants shooting lineup of Jo Harten and star recruit Caitlin Bassett failing to fire consistently.
Diamonds captain Bassett, whose preseason was disrupted with a wrist injury, was benched early in the final quarter as the Swifts’ lead swelled to seven goals, but it was too late for the Giants, who led at half-time but fell away late in the game.
At the other end of the court Nissan MVP Paige Hadley was all but unstoppable, delivering a match high 25 goal assists to shooting duo Sam Wallace (46/49) and an uncharacteristically wayward Helen Housby (17/26).
Despite missing injured pair Kate Eddy and English international wing attack Natalie Haythornthwaite from their lineup, the Swifts had the better of the early exchanges, leading by three goals after a burst of three consecutive scores to Wallace late in the first quarter, before settling on a 14-12 lead and securing their first bonus point of the season.
The Giants hit back early in the second, taking the lead through back-to-back Harten goals and finding their range to Bassett, who helped herself to 10 goals for the quarter, carrying the Giants to a 30-28 lead despite two missed attempts right on the half-time whistle.
Swifts coach Briony Akle urged her defence end to take risks in the third term and her charges delivered, with Turner and Klau both creating turnover opportunities to help wrestle back the lead and push out to three goals in front.
A miscued bounce pass from Jamie-Lee Price allowed the Swifts to extend their advantage to five, but Harten was producing opportunities both ways, getting hands to an errant Swifts pass through the centre third and sparking a run of three Bassett goals to end the quarter, shaving the margin to two.
Klau and Turner were on fire again early in the final term, securing back-to-back turnovers to take the lead out to seven, and prompting a major Giants shake-up, with coach Julie Fitzgerald shifting Bassett to the bench, Harten moved to goal shooter and Kiera Austin installed at goal attack.
But with the Swifts continuing to control proceedings in their attack end and tick the scoreboard over, it was too little, too late, giving the Swifts an almost perfect start to the 2019 season, with three bonus points accompanying their victory.
Score breakdown
Q1: Swifts 14 v Giants 12
Q2: Swifts 14 v Giants 18
Q3: Swifts 18 v Giants 14
Q4: Swifts 17 v Giants 12
Suncorp Super Netball Premiership Points
Swifts – 7
Giants – 1
Swifts shooting statistics
Sam Wallace: 46/49 (94%)
Helen Housby: 17/26 (65%)
Giants shooting statistics
Jo Harten 25/31 (81%)
Caitlin Bassett: 28/36 (77%)
Kiera Austin: 3/3 (100%)
Swifts starting seven:
GS – Sam Wallace, GA – Helen Housby, WA – Paige Hadley, C – Maddy Proud, WD, Lauren Moore, GD – Maddy Turner, GK – Sarah Klau
Giants starting seven:
GS – Caitlin Bassett, GA – Jo Harten, WA – Kim Green, C – Jamie-Lee Price, WD – Amy Parmenter, GD – Kristiana Manu’a, GK – Sam Poolman
Nissan MVP:
Paige Hadley
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