THE Sunshine Coast Lightning asserted their dominance on the competition once again with a huge come-from-behind win over NSW Swifts in a top-of-the-table clash over the weekend. The Swifts had a chance to tie things up in the dying seconds of the game but a crucial miss from youngster Sophie Garbin saw the Lightning propel the ball down the court and slot another goal to run out two-goal victors.

Cara Koenen got the nod at goal shooter for the second consecutive week and did not disappoint with the tall and athletic goaler only missing one shot for the term. Koenen shouldered the load in attack piling on 10 goals while Steph Wood laboured, struggling to hit the scoreboard sitting at 50 percent for the first quarter with three goals from six attempts. Although she did not capitalise under the post Wood did a wealth of work out the front delivering the ball into Koenen and setting up the play in the attacking third. The Swifts had a new look shooting combination with Helen Housby back home in Sydney after sustaining a corked thigh and unable to make the journey. 22-year-old Sophie Garbin was poised with the task of goal attack with the typical goal shooter forced out of her comfort zone. Garbin had minimal impact on the scoreboard in the opening quarter with only one goal but shooting partner Sam Wallace stood up time and time again, reigning in errant passes and using her silky footwork to claim clever positioning under the post nailing nine goals. The Lightning were firing on all cylinders with their slick ball movement and connections through attack, stunning the Swifts claiming a three goal lead at quarter time.

The tables quickly turned in the second quarter with NSW showcasing their attacking prowess and lifting their intensity right across the court. Silver Fern, Katrina Rore made her debut for the club replacing Sophie Halpin in at wing defence using her long arms, quick feet and experience to cause havoc and slow down the Lightning attack. Rore slotted right into the defensive unit allowing Sarah Klau and Maddy Turner to go out hunting and pick off passes with Klau notching up three gains, one intercept and four deflections. With the back end lifting their load, Swifts coach Briony Akle made a change through the midcourt bringing on youngster Tayla Fraser. The wing attack found good space, hit the circle edge hard and showcased her impressive vision to sight Wallace and Garbin under the post with eight feeds. Wood continued to struggle in attack for the Lightning not hitting the scoreboard while Sunshine Coast goal keeper Phumza Maweni did her role winning back ball for her side and doing it cleanly. The South African international showcased her ability to read the play, clever footwork to get around the body and netball nous with two gains and one intercept for the quarter. Scores were tied at half time at 25 goals apiece however the Swifts claimed their first bonus point of the game with a 15 goals to 12 quarter.

The Swifts had all the ascendancy throughout the third term, slicing and dicing through the defence while also winning their fair share of the ball back. Klau, Rore and Turner all forced turnovers while Paige Hadley showcased her speed and ball placement to fly through the midcourt and transition from one end to the other with ease. Garbin came into her own in the third quarter shooting four goals with her feeds into the circle a real feature of her game, helping to set up the Swifts attacking foray. Although the Swifts seemed to have all the momentum the Lightning were never out of the contest with dynamic defender Karla Pretorius putting on a masterclass. Pretorius amassed three gains and three intercepts while doing a wealth of work at the centre pass to bring the ball down the court with three receives. Wing defence Jacqui Russel was crucial down back applying good hands over pressure with one gain and a deflection but it was not enough to stop the Swifts who well and truly found their rhythm in attack.

Down by four goals at the final change Noeline Taurua made a handful of changes. Wood made her way to the bench forcing Koenen into goal attack while Ugandan shooter Peace Proscovia pulled on the goal shooter bib. Madeline McAuliffe relieved Russel in wig defence with the changes taking no time to settle. Laura Langman and Laura Scherian stepped up feeding into Proscovia with ease while Pretorius took a game changing intercept. The Lightning had an extra spring in their step contesting hard for every ball and forcing turnovers to help mount their comeback. With added pressure Natalie Haythornthwaite made her way off the bench and into wing attack providing good leads and clever ball placement but it was little too late. Proscovia nailed 11 goals straight while Wood re-entered the game with less than two minutes to go sinking a long bomb in the dying seconds to claim victory.

STARTING LINE-UP:

SUNSHINE COAST LIGHTNING:

GS | Cara Koenen
GA | Steph Wood
WA | Laura Scherian
C | Laura Langman
WD | Jacqui Russel
GD | Karla Pretorius
GK | Phumza Maweni

NSW SWIFTS:

GS | Sam Wallace
GA | Sophie Garbin
WA | Natalie Haythornthwaite
C | Paige Hadley
WD | Sophie Halpin
GD | Maddy Turner
GK | Sarah Klau