Swifts remain unbeaten in ANZ Championship

The NSW Swifts remain unbeaten in the 2016 ANZ Championship after defeating the West Coast Fever at Perth’s HBF Stadium 63-52 for their fourth consecutive victory of the season, the first away from their Sydney Olympic Park home. 

Despite the final outcome, the Swifts were under pressure early on as the Fever led at the half time break, before a strong team effort from the visitors had them back in the lead throughout the second half, much to the delight of Swifts coach Rob Wright. 


“I really didn’t feel like we were able to do what we were planning in the first half, and that is purely due to [the Fever]. They really stemmed us from doing those things we’ve been renowned for in our first three games – we weren’t able to move the ball quickly and we were really struggling to win the ball off them,” Wright said. 


“From half-time we were able to get back to those things we were looking for – ball speed, turnover conversions, quick scoring – and when we do those, we were going to be ok. So I was really pleased with the second half, really rapt.”


While the team pulled together for the result, NSWIS Goal Defender Maddy Turner was strong in her fourth successive game in her debut season, fending off challenges from Australian Netball Diamonds Goal Attack Nat Medhurst, which provided Swifts Goal Keeper Sharni Layton plenty of opportunity to turn over possession. 


The Swifts took charge in the second half, leading by as many as six goals, until a resilient Fever pegged them back to a five-goal lead ahead of the final quarter. However even with a vocal home crowd, the Fever simply ran out of time to catch the commanding Swifts, who won by an eventual 11 goals. 


The NSW Swifts next assignment in the ANZ Championship will be a round five clash with the Queensland Firebirds on Saturday April 30 at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.