IT was a physical battle from the get-go between the Sunshine Coast Lightning and NSW Swifts, with a real defenders game playing out between the two sides. Even at the first break with just a goal between them at the main change, the Lightning took control in the second half to claim a four goal victory, 58-54.

It was a vintage Karla Pretorius performance, as the Lightning captain was on from the get-go and Phumza Maweni falling in line with the duo sharing the accolades throughout. It was a tight start and relatively high-scoring opening term, piling on 18 goals apiece as all five goalers showcased their accuracy and ability to find space in attack. Cara Koenen and Steph Wood continued to showcase their picture perfect connection in attack, with Laura Scherian firing from circle edge to propel consistent ball into Koenen who utilised her footwork to out-position Sarah Klau. Wood’s effort was mirrored by Helen Housby who started well for the Swifts, while Sam Wallace missed her first goal in a couple of matches credit to the long arms and efforts of Maweni. Pretorius racked up two intercepts as Wood piled on two supershots but the Swifts were clinical in attack, missing Maddy Proud but not lacking any shortage of drive with both Paige Hadley and Nat Haythornthwaite finding circle edge and feeds with ease.

The Swifts marginally gained the upper hand in the second, in a much more defensively minded quarter – if that was possible – with a lower-scoring term down to the constant battle all down the court. If it was not Pretorius or Maweni at one end, or Klau and Maddy Turner at the other, it was the tightly marked midcourt stepping up as Mahalia Cassidy and both Haythornthwaite and Hadley got in on the action. Klau’s ability to block Koenen’s drives and get hands to loose ball became more evident, forcing the goaler to switch up her style, as Turner got in Wood’s way and head to render the goal attack to 50 per cent accuracy for the quarter. Wallace was influential and a rock out the front as she had her way in the circle, seeing the Swifts claim the minor ascendancy 33-32 at half time.

A huge third quarter loomed and did not disappoint as the clinical defensive effort continued from both sides and forcing errant passes across the court, and most importantly, uncharacteristic misses from all four goalers. Klau and Maweni continued to monster their way through the back-end of the court in another low-scoring quarter while Scherian and Haythornthwaite cancelled each other out with their ability to spot their goalers and speed at the centre pass. Maddy McAuliffe made the switch into centre and did not skip a beat, commanding the airways and forcing the Swifts’ change as speedster Tayla Fraser entered the fray, while a six pickup to three effort from the Lightning saw them steal back the lead with a 14-10 quarter and 15 minutes to go.

It took an astounding defensive effort from both sides in the final term, with just 23 goals scored credit to the workrate and class of both defensive units, not only finding and creating the loose ball, but also doing so cleanly – and it was that cleanliness that saw the Lightning run home with the eventual four-goal win, with Pretorius and Maweni staying away from the whistle and combining for just 23 penalties between them – compared to the likes of Turner and Klau who piled on 20 and 17, respectively. The final quarter saw the goal shooters take control once more with both Wood and Housby really tested and blocked out of the contest by their respective defenders in Klau and Pretorius, as Koenen and Wallace went at 100 per cent to finish off on a high, as the Lightning marginally pipped Swifts at the post with 12-11 for the term and the 58-54 victory.

For the losing side, it was a 37 goal effort from Wallace that kept the Swifts in the contest, with the goaler sitting on a 93 per cent accuracy as Housby shot 12 goals from 15 attempts and Sophie Garbin put up three from five. It was a creative defensive effort across the board as Klau (seven gains from two intercepts, eight deflections, one rebound, one pickup), Turner (four gains from two intercepts, six deflections, one rebound, one pickup), Hadley (two intercepts, 17 goal assists) and Haythornthwaite (one intercept, 17 assists) all created pressure down the court. Lauren Moore racked up five pickups and three gains (zero to advantage). For the Lightning, Pretorius piled on five intercepts and two rebounds to account for her seven gains as Maweni created three intercepts and gained possession off two of her five deflections. Cassidy also finished with three gains as Koenen picked up an intercept to go with her 38 goals from 40 attempts. Wood was down on accuracy but up on volume finishing with 16 assists and 16 goals from 25 attempts, including four of six super shots. Scherian had 19 goal assists and 31 centre pass receives.

SUNSHINE COAST LIGHTNING 18 | 14 | 14 | 12 (58)
NSW SWIFTS 18 | 15 | 10 | 11 (54)

STARTING SEVENS:

Lightning

GS: Cara Koenen
GA: Steph Wood
WA: Laura Scherian
C: Mahalia Cassidy
WD: Maddy McAuliffe
GD: Karla Pretorius
GK: Phumza Maweni

Swifts

GS: Sam Wallace
GA: Helen Housby
WA: Nat Haythornthwaite
C: Paige Hadley
WD: Lauren Moore
GD: Maddy Turner
GK: Sarah Klau

Picture credit: Getty Images