A titanic effort from prolific shooter Sam Wallace has helped NSW Swifts to a 63-51 win over local rivals GIANTS Netball, in their most complete performance since winning the 2019 grand final.
The Trinidadian colossus made all 58 of her attempts at Ken Rosewall Arena on Sunday and the Swifts didn't miss any of their 63 shots in an efficient offensive performance.
Swifts, who won back-to-back games for the first time this season, improved to 4-2, the same mark as GIANTS, who have lost their last two.
In front of 8,158 spectators, Swifts led by one, four and eight after each of the first three quarters.
GIANTS fought hard in the final quarter, but couldn't get the deficit below six.
Swifts opted not to take a super shot, while GIANTS made six of their 14 attempts, and shot at 80 per cent overall.
Neither team led by more than two in a hotly-contested first quarter.
Both teams controlled the ball well, with hardly any turnovers as Swifts led 18-17 at the first change.
Swifts capitalised on a couple of turnovers to lead by six with under our minutes of the second quarter left.
GIANTS' coach Julie Fitzgerald shuffled her circle defence around halfway through the second quarter, bringing on Kristiana Manu'a at goal defence for April Brandley, who less than a minute later returned to the court at goal keeper in place of.Sam Poolman.
Three successful super shots from Sophie Dwyer kept the GIANTS within reach and they trailed 36-32 at halftime.
Fitzgerald shuffled her options again at the start of the third quarter, returning to her starting circle defensive duo and shifting Manu'a to wing defence in place of Amy Parmenter while switching the positions of shooters Dwyer and Jo Harten.
Later in the quarter, Fitzgerald made yet another change, injecting Matilda McDonnell at goalkeeper for Poolman.
Swifts' coach Briony Akle was less inclined to tinker with her starting seven, apart from bringing on Tayla Fraser for Nat Haythornthwaite at the start of the second half.
While the GIANTS scored the first point of the third quarter, Swifts shot to a ten-point lead heading into the Power 5 period and were 49-41 up at the end of the term.
Score Breakdown
Q1: GIANTS 17 v Swifts 18
Q2: GIANTS 32 v Swifts 36
Q3: GIANTS 41 v Swifts 49
Q4: GIANTS 51 v Swifts 63
GIANTS Shooting Statistics:
Jo Harten: 23/29 - 79.3%, G1: 21/25, G2: 2/5, Total Points: 25
Sophie Dwyer: 22/27 - 81.5%, G1: 18/18, G2: 4/9, Total Points: 26
GIANTS Starting Seven: GS: Jo Harten GA: Sophie Dwyer WA: Maddy Hay C: Jamie-Lee Price WD: Amy Parmenter GD: Kristiana Manu'a GK: Sam Poolman
Swifts Starting Seven: GS: Sam Wallace GA: Helen Housby WA: Nat Haythornthwaite C: Maddy Proud WD: Paige Hadley GD: Maddy Turner GK: Sarah Klau
