By Chloe Pilkington
The NSW Swifts have shown their grit and experience, stealing the win over the Queensland Firebirds in extra time at Nissan Arena. After trailing for majority of the match, the heavyweight champions pulled off a monumental 17-9 fourth quarter performance to force the game into extra time.
To give credit where credit's due, the home crowd were treated to an exciting and promising performance from the Firebirds. But, in the end it wasn't enough to stop the force of the Swifts, with coach Briony Akle making pinpoint decisions to keep her side sharp throughout the grueling battle.
In no surprise, the Firebirds opted to start with the same seven who pulled off a clutch win last week against the GIANTS. Defensive duo Remi Kamo and Ruby Bakewell-Doran brought the defensive pressure early, causing confusion in the minds of the Swifts’ feeders.
Sophie Fawns was given her first start of the season at GS and slotted in the opening goal of the match. The young gun was supported by veteran Helen Housby in GA, who was celebrating a milestone, playing in her 100th game.
After going goal-for-goal in majority of the first term, it was the Swifts who cracked under pressure, struggling to push through the midcourt. Tippah Dwan dropped the first Super Shot of the game and the purple army pushed out to a four-goal lead, forcing a Swifts’ tactical timeout.
Sam Wallace-Joseph made her first appearance on court, with Fawns moving to the bench and made an instant impact sinking a crucial two-pointer. But the hosts kept their noses in front, holding a three-goal lead going into the first break.
Momentum began to swing early in the second quarter, with the Swifts working hard to level the scoreline after struggling to respond to an impressive opening start from the home side.
Swifts' attacking duo Paige Hadley and Maddy Proud were instrumental in directing flow throughout the midcourt and feeding over the tall arms of Kamo and Bakewell-Doran.
During a few frantic minutes of play, a swarm of errors were committed by both sides as the second Power Five of the match loomed. Kamo brought the house down after an impressive rejection over a Super Shot attempt from Fawns. The Firebirds' defender racked up two intercepts, six deflections and three rebounds.
Unable to find answers in slowing down Donnell Wallam and Tippah Dwan, Elle Temu was brought onto court at GD for the Swifts. But no player in red seemed to be able to stop Wallam, the GS slotting in 51 goals and four Super Shots throughout the match. The Firebirds held their position, going into the main break with a five-goal lead 35-30.
Coach Briony Akle kept her side fresh, bringing in Lili Gorman-Brown at WA to create more speed in their attacking third. But ultimately the defensive pressure of the home side was proving too much, with the likes of Helen Housby being forced out of play. Normally dominating in her role at GA, the 100th gamer finished on 66.5 Nissan Net Points powered by e-powered, only slotting in 19 goals. But Housby made her moments count, draining seven Super Shots in the clutch moments of the match.
Hulita Veve was the standout for the team in purple, showing no signs of fear coming up against experienced players like Hadley and Proud. Veve came away with two intercepts, three deflections and ultimately was the force on court willing her side along in the tough periods of the game.
The Firebirds put their foot down in the third term, pushing out to their biggest lead and forcing Wallace-Joseph to take the Super Shot. The Swifts' GS was unable to hit the mark and the hosts were in high-spirits going into the fourth term with an eight-goal lead.
The fourth quarter was a true display of do-or-die energy from the NSW Swifts, giving everything they had to claw back the deficit. Despite dominating in the the first three quarters, it was the Firebirds who were now struggling to find answers to hold off their opponents.
After pulling off a clinical 17-9 quarter fight back, the Swifts managed to tie up the scoreline at 62-a piece and for the second time in Round 3, the winner would be decided in extra time.
As momentum seemed to stay with the Swifts, Dwan and Wallam were forced to take Super Shots but were unable to make them count, silencing the home crowd.
After the first five minutes of extra time, the Swifts had their noses in front by four. The team in red continued to push forward in the final moments of extra time, impressively running down the clock and clinching a five-goal win over a hard-fought QLD Firebirds.
