NSW Swifts have pulled off a solid comeback to defeat the Melbourne Vixens by one goal. 67-66 in Sydney last night. Melbourne Vixens went into the last quarter in a dominant position, but the Swifts never gave up and worked their way back into the match and thanks to a clutch moment from an unlikely source were able to take the win.  

The Vixens were quick to pinch a goal off a Swifts centre pass, after a clever tap from Kiera Austin saw the Vixens capitalise and then score off the very first centre. They then converted off their own opening centre pass to take the early lead.

That broken centre pass was the difference for several minutes as things tightened up before the Vixens pinched another goal off an NSW centre pass. The Vixens were playing with a lot more confidence than last week and were reaping the rewards on the scoreboard.

The final two minutes were a different story though. The home side had a resurgence, finally pinched a goal off a Vixens centre pass for the first time all game and got the margin down from five to a mere one. They would have had the lead if one of Helen Housby’s missed Super Shots had gone in, but none the less they certainly had the momentum heading into quarter time.

The Swifts did not take too long to finish the job of eliminating the deficit and taking the lead in the second term, as they got the better start to the term on the scoreboard and got that job done inside the opening minutes. They kept that momentum going and all of a sudden they were the ones with a five goal lead.

The Vixens kept working away at the deficit, but despite being behind they continued to not even attempt the Super Shot, much less convert one. Things were tied with mere seconds to go in the quarter, but just as the Swifts were looking to pinch the lead late, Olivia Lewis had other ideas and with a beautiful intercept denied the Swifts one last shot at goal.

However the Swifts had still won the quarter, which was their first second quarter win for the season.

The Vixens came out of the blocks firing in the third term, and raced out to a five goal lead after silly errors at times from the Swifts really cost them. The Swifts kept changing things up positionally as they tried to find the perfect on court combination, but nothing seemed to be working.

Things went from bad to worse for the Swifts as they continued to make the errors and the Vixens capitalised and stretched the lead out to as much as eight goals. Perhaps because of the early Super Shot misses or perhaps it was a confidence thing, but even being so far behind the Swifts did not want to go for the Super Shot initially.

It took until the final minute of the term for the Swifts to attempt one, which luckily for them did convert, but even with two converted Super Shots the home side were still down by six goals at the final change and momentum was well and truly with the away side.

It took them half of the final quarter, but the Swifts did eventually start to build and work away at the deficit, and there was a definitive momentum shift in the middle of the final quarter.

Things got tied up just as the final Power Five Period began, but the Swifts were thrown a spanner in the works when Maddy Turner was forced off after a head knock. However instead of bringing on Teigan O’Shannassy, the Swifts decided to throw their own spanner in the works and bring on Allie Smith.

It proved to be a master stroke from Briony Akle as Smith went on to pick up a crucial rebound which allowed the Swifts to hold on to their one goal lead and ultimately take the win.

For the Swifts Romelda Aiken (46 goals from 52 attempts, seven feeds, four assists, one deflection, six rebounds) was doing just about everything legally possible in the circle, while up the other end Sarah Klau (three deflections, three gains, one intercept) was certainly getting plenty of ball for her team.

Meanwhile for the Vixens Lewis (six deflections, five gains, three intercepts) was stellar in defence, as was Jo Weston (four deflections, two gains).

NSW SWIFTS                  15 | 15 | 16 | 21 (67)
MELBOURNE VIXENS     16 | 14 | 22 | 14 (66)

STARTING SEVENS

NSW Swifts

GS: Romelda Aiken-George
GA: Helen Housby
WA: Paige Hadley
C: Maddy Proud
WD: Allie Smith
GD: Maddy Turner
GK: Sarah Klau

Melbourne Vixens

GS: Mwai Kumwenda
GA: Kiera Austin
WA: Liz Watson
C: Kate Moloney
WD: Kate Eddy
GD: Jo Weston
GK: Olivia Lewis