3 minute read
The Queensland Firebirds have improved their Super Netball finals prospects and almost certainly ended those of the NSW Swifts with a thrilling win in Sydney.
The Queensland Firebirds have overcome the loss of star shooter Donnell Wallam to score a thrilling 61-60 away win over NSW Swifts in a crunch Super Netball fixture.
The teams swapped places on the Super Netball ladder with the Firebirds' win lifting them to sixth, one victory off fourth spot.
The Swifts dropped to seventh, eight points off fourth and with only a faint mathematical hope of making the finals with two rounds remaining.
The Firebirds recorded successive wins for the first time this season as they notched a first away victory of their campaign, while the Swifts slumped to a club-record sixth-straight loss.
In a wild finish, Emily Moore gave the Firebirds a one-point lead with a Super Shot with 19 seconds left.
The Swifts' Sophie Fawns, who only entered the game with just over ten minutes left, had two off-target Super Shots in the last three seconds.
The Firebirds' greater efficiency from two-point range was decisive with them hitting 12 of 19 and the Swifts landing just six of 16.
Moore (18/25 including five of seven Super Shots) and Tippah Dwan (31/41 including seven of 12 Super Shots), did a sterling job of compensating for Wallam, who dropped out of the squad due to sickness.
"It was a four-quarter effort tonight the Swifts really gave it to us all the way, Firebirds centre Macy Gardner told Fox Sports.
"We had to fight to the end, we're really proud of the girls and the changes that were made.
"Everyone just adapted."
The Swifts led by seven in the first quarter after a 6-0 run and by four at the first change.
The Firebirds started the second quarter with 5-0 run and their increase in ball speed found some holes in the Swifts' defence.
They scored ten of the first 13 goals of the quarter to lead by three, but the Swifts fought back to be one-up by halftime.
Another 6-0 run to the Swifts gave them a 46-40 advantage in the third, but Queensland rallied to force a 49-49 tie heading into a last quarter, which produced just 23 goals.
NSW gathered ten more rebounds with defender Tegan O'Shannassy taking six, one more than the entire Firebirds line-up, while she also tallied five deflections and nine gains.
Queensland midcourter Macy Gardner was a constant source of activity and effectiveness with 40 feeds and 22 goal assists.
Swifts shooter and Tonga representative Uneeq Palavi (37/43) marked her home debut with some athletic moves, but missed four of six Super Shots before being replaced by Fawns.
