By Charlotte Knoke
It was a tight match, but the Swifts held on and produced a clinical fourth-quarter comeback, winning by 1 goal against the Vixens in the final seconds of the match. Winning the final quarter 21 - 14, the Swifts sealed the win with the slimmest of margins, and solidified their place as third on the current Suncorp Super Netball ladder.
To start the game, Keira Austin immediately turned over the NSW Swift’s first centre pass with a tip.
A wayward pass from the Swifts also gave the Melbourne Vixens possession, and the visitors were quickly out to a 4-goal lead (7-3).
Access into the Vixens’ shooting circle was looking quick, easy and seamless to start the first quarter, with the midcourters able to feed the ball through the middle channel.
An offensive contact was called against Vixens’ shooter Mwai Kumwenda, but Olivia Lewis was able to pick up a clean intercept at the other end of the court, regaining possession for the Vixens.
Swifts coach Briony Akle called a time-out just before the Power Five started to try and stop the momentum of the Vixens, and subsequently brought Tayla Fraser on as wing defence to change up their defensive style.
A held ball from Vixens wing attack Liz Watson was capitalised on by the Swifts through Romelda Aiken-George, reducing the deficit.
Olivia Lewis was tight on the body of Helen Housby, but the Swifts goal attack was able to get free and sink a supershot to bring the margin back to 2.
Tayla Fraser also picked up a loose ball and the Swifts were able to convert.
It was a strong first quarter from the Vixens, but the Swifts made a comeback in the final minutes, with the home side ending up down by 1 going into the second quarter (16-15).
A fumbled ball from Kumwenda gave the Swifts possession and they converted with their own centre pass to follow, drawing the game back to level (18-18).
Tayla Fraser gained an intercept from the edge of the circle for the Swifts and the home team seemed to be gaining their rhythm, scoring yet again through Aiken-George. Vixens coach Simone McKinnis then promptly called a time-out.
Maddy Turner got a tip in the circle and the Swifts quickly capitalised again, bringing their lead out to 5 (24-19).
A missed shot from Austin gave the Swifts possession yet again but a fumbled ball from Housby gave the ball back to the Vixens to convert through Kumwenda.
Jo Weston picked up a ball for the Vixens and with their centre pass to follow, the visitors were able to claw back to even (29-29) in the final minute of the quarter.
Lewis picked up a clean intercept in the dying seconds of the second quarter, denying the Swifts a goal before half-time.
It was a stronger second quarter from the Swifts, winning the quarter 15-14, but the game was all levelled up heading into half-time (30-30).
No changes were made by either team to start the third quarter.
Jo Weston picked up a ball and Austin capitalised, giving the Vixens a 2 goal lead (34-32).
Lewis gained yet another intercept from a cross-court ball, contributing to the strong opening the Vixens had to the quarter.
Sophie Fawns came onto the court in goal attack for the Swifts, sending Housby to the bench, and Teigan O’Shannassy also came on in goal keeper, with Sarah Klau moving into goal defence and Turner going off.
The Vixens had a little run of goals and were able to extend their lead out to 8 (44-36). Akle then called a time-out for the Swifts, and Housby re-entered the game in goal attack.
The Vixens were looking comfortable and the ball placement from the midcourters into the circle was near perfect, stopping the Swifts defenders.
Housby scored a supershot for the Swifts to bring the margin back to 7 (48-41), but Austin then responded at the other end with a supershot of her own.
Fawns then came back onto court as goal shooter, with Aiken-George going to the bench, to give the Swifts more long-range shooting options. Housby then scored another supershot.
The Swifts clawed the deficit back to 6 thanks to a supershot through Housby, and the Vixens led 52-46 heading into the final quarter.
To start the final quarter, Klau moved back into goal keeper with Turner returning to the court in goal defence, and Aiken-George reentered the game in goal shooter for the Swifts.
The two sides were goal-for-goal for the first five minutes of the quarter, but a pick-up from Housby was capitalised on by the Swifts through the hand of Aiken-George. With their centre pass to follow, the home side reduced the deficit to 4 (58-54).
Klau picked up a clean intercept off a cross-court ball and the Swifts converted. McKinnis then called a time-out to slow their momentum.
But another loose ball was picked up by the Swifts defenders and the two teams were back to even (61-61) with just over five minutes remaining.
A held ball was called against the Vixens with the home side once again gaining possession, and suddenly the Swifts were in front by 1 goal.
Turner was sent to the bench due to blood after a tussle for the ball with Vixens players, and Allie Smith came on in goal defence for the Swifts.
Kumwenda scored a supershot for the Vixens to bring the game back to level once again. Kumwenda then attempted another supershot on the following centre pass, but it missed and Smith cleaned up the rebound.
The Swifts then cleverly played the ball around the court and ran down the clock to hold onto their 1 goal lead and secure the win (67-66).
