The NSW Swifts’ season is all but over after falling to a shock 61-60 loss to rivals the Queensland Firebirds on Sunday.
Last year’s grand finalists have endured a horror 2024 campaign and now sit only percentage off the bottom of the ladder thanks to a sixth straight loss in an alarming fall from grace.
They now need to win their final two games by big margins – including next week against reigning premiers the Adelaide Thunderbirds – and rely on other results to go their way if they are to play post-season in a shock outcome for Briony Akle’s team.
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But it was jubilation for the Firebirds who despite the late withdrawal of star shooter Donnell Wallam through illness, extended co-coaches Katie Walker and Roselee Jencke’s perfect record with a second successive win.
The result ensures the Firebirds kept their slim Super Netball finals hopes alive, as they sit just one win behind fourth-placed Sunshine Coast Lightning – who they meet next weekend.
It was a long bomb from Emily Moore that sealed the deal for the Firebirds, with the rookie stepping up (18 goals including five super shots) in Wallam’s absence.
“It’s tough when the game is on the line, but as a shooter that’s what you have to do – shoot goals. It’s so noisy out there, so you just have to turn to post, line it up and have a crack. Very glad that last one landed,” she said.
After debuting last week, Tongan international Uneeq Palavi earned her first Super Netball star and provided a strong anchor for her side, finishing the match with 37/43 including a crowd pleasing lay up in the opening minutes.
With Palavi in attack, the Swifts shot out to an early seven goal lead as Firebirds struggled to adjust to their new front line minus Wallam.
But they found their groove in the second quarter, using their speed to stay a step ahead of the Swifts defenders Sarah Klau and Teigan O’Shannassy and narrowed the gap to one at the main break.
Goal for goal in the second half, Firebirds coach Katie Walker gave her side one last rev up to try and bring them home in the dying minutes.
“We said we were going to do this, so we are,” she said. “I know we’re exhausted, but we still have a job to do, we have to find something.”
And it was Moore who stepped up when it mattered to keep the Firebirds’ dream alive.
FEVER BOUNCE BACK IN STYLE
West Coast Fever have recovered from their mid-season slump and returned to the winner’s list after a come-from-behind 68-65 win over Giants in Perth.
The victory keeps them within striking distance of top two, and a precious double chance in the Super Netball finals, while the result has shut the door on the Giants’ finals hopes, leaving them anchored to the bottom of the ladder.
Giants coach Julie Fitzgerald said a lack of confidence played a role in the heartbreaking loss – after scoring just nine goals in a horror third term.
“I felt for most of the game we played really, really well, but we had a patch where we let it go. Won two quarters, drew one, and still came away without the points,” she said.
“We come out and really attack the game, but when a couple of things go wrong, we lose a little bit of confidence.”
In perhaps their strongest performance of the season, Giants led for more than half the match and were on fire during the supershot period.
The Fever, who sit equal lowest for the number of intercepts taken this season, struggled to shut down the dynamic duo of Giants’ captain Jo Harten (35/39 including seven supershots) and Sophie Dwyer (19/23 with four super shots) as both found their sweet spot from long range.
In contrast, Fever nailed just one supershot at a dismal 12 percent, forcing them to rely on their one-point game to try and stay in touch.
Down by eight points at half time, Fever coach Dan Ryan swung the changes to ignite the huge crowd as they completed an 11-point turnaround to hit the lead.
Desperate for the win, both sides scrambled for the ball in the last quarter.
Placing her body on the line, Fever’s Kadie-Ann Dehaney was lucky not to be sent off again after a late challenge on Sam Winders. However, not even the Giants’ supershot prowess could close the final gap as Fever hung on for a nailbiting win.
Jhaniele Fowler top-scored with 55/59, while Fever’s Fran Williams had a stellar game in front of her family, who’d made the long trip from England to watch their daughter in action.
Fever wing attack Alice Teague-Neeld took MVP honours with 36 goal assists and two pick ups, while Jamie-Lee Price dominated at centre for the Giants.
MAVS STILL ALIVE WITH SHOCK WIN
The Melbourne Mavericks’ hopes of a maiden finals berth is still alive after goal attack Gabby Sinclair’s final quarter heroics in the one-goal win over Sunshine Coast Lightning.
Sinclair nailed a supershot in the dying seconds to lift her side to a shock 72-71 victory on Saturday.
While Mavericks remain just outside the top four on percentage, their Super Netball finals door is ajar as they’ve now crept level on points with Lightning.
Coach Tracey Neville was ecstatic with the result in her first season at the helm of a Super Netball side.
“I have so much love for this team but at other times they break my heart with the things they do. But they definitely have heart and soul and just kept in the game,” she said.
The match was far from a perfect example of netball as both teams played with desperation to give themselves the best chance of playing finals.
Lightning captain Steph Fretwell headed for a chat with the umpires at half time regarding the Mavericks’ off-the-ball physicality.
Lightning regularly edged out to a small lead, and just as often Mavericks pulled it back.
Mavericks captain Amy Parmenter was warned for dangerous play in the third term, and mere seconds later, Tayla Fraser was warned for arguing with the umpire.
Unsurprisingly, coach Neville immediately called a timeout to settle her side, reminding her players to keep their “eyes on the prize”.
Lightning upped the intensity in the final term, absorbing the pressure applied by the Mavericks. But, in scenes reminiscent of their Round 4 matchup a footwork call allowed the Mavericks to level and in the last few seconds, it was Sinclair who took the
glory with a well-placed super shot to give them the victory.
Fraser ended match MVP for her 21 goal assists and intercept.
For the Lightning, Liz Watson was nearly unstoppable as she notched 54 feeds and 33 centre receives, but she’ll be disappointed as her side’s finals chances are now in jeopardy as a result of the loss.
THUNDERBIRDS CLAIM TOP-TWO TUSSLE
The Adelaide Thunderbirds have stamped their premiership credentials with a punishing 73-58 win over ladder leaders the Melbourne Vixens on Saturday.
The Vixens looked to have one hand on the minor premiership, but now sit just one win clear and could cough up the crown as the Thunderbirds have superior percentage and easier run home.
Coach Simone McKinnis described her team as “super disappointed” with the result after her side went into a panic mode.
“There was disconnect. We were at a standstill too much and not doing the short and sharp and letting the ball go,” she said.
In what many pundits predicted was a sneak preview of the Super Netball grand final, the Thunderbirds’ 15-point victory maintains their perfect record at home this season, giving them a confidence booster with the grand final to be held in Adelaide.
Neither side flinched during the early stages, playing aggressively in defence but giving up a few attacking errors. Thunderbirds put their early nerves to bed in the second quarter, using smothering defence to create scoring opportunities as they shot out to a seven-point lead. They were led by Shamera Sterling-Humphrey who created havoc in the Vixens forward line to finish with nine gains and earn MVP honours.
An ankle injury to Lauren Frew saw the Thunderbirds have to shuffle their line, shifting playmaker Georgie Horjus forward into goal attack. However, coach Tania Obst’s policy of rotating her line each game allowed them to adjust without too much difficulty, as they led by seven points at the main break.
Vixens coach Simone McKinnis made the huge move of benching her captain Kate Moloney at half time, seeking more punch in attack.
With the Thunderbirds continuing to press their advantage, Moloney came back into wing defence, and a flurry of two pointers by the Vixens kept the margin within striking distance.
But with just six gains, Vixens biggest downfall was their inability to create opportunities for themselves. They were well short of the Thunderbirds 18, who have dominated this statistic all season.
Vixens youngster Zara Walters impressed in her Super Netball return after missing nine weeks with a back injury, while Thunderbird Romelda Aiken-George top scored with 47/53.
Source Agencies
