The fickle form of the talent-laden Swifts continued today, the result and a tough draw for the remainder of the season, leaving them with an uphill slog now to make the Finals Series. For the defending champions, who struggled mightily at the start of the season, it proved their biggest win of the current campaign as they remain a mathematical chance for a top-four spot.
The Thunderbirds had a whole host of stars today but it was hard to go past shooting sensation Carla Borrego, who posted 38 goals from 40 attempts for a 95 percent accuracy rate to provide the home team's winning platform.
Coming off the best game of their season in the last round, Swifts found themselves tested from the outset today.
Rebuilding this year, there was plenty of evidence of improvement from the young and inexperienced Thunderbirds who had much the better of the opening stanza. With 1.93m shooter Borrego the main target under the hoop, the home team delivered a slick and accurate supply of ball to the athletic Jamaican. Patient and steady on their build-up through court, Emily Beaton's timing and release got her team off to a flyer.
Looking a little flat after travelling back from their last game in New Zealand, captain Catherine Cox was in top form for the Swifts. Not enjoying the same amount of possession as their opponents, Cox and Susan Pratley kept the Swifts in the contest with a faultless shooting display as the Thunderbirds hit the first break of a high scoring quarter with a 17-14 lead.
There were plenty of ebbs and flows in the second stanza, the home team stretching out to a six-goal advantage before they were reeled back in by Swifts. The defensive trio of Mo'onia Gerrard, Rebecca Bulley and Sonia Mkoloma tightened the screws in restricting the flow to Borrego as the visitors came back strongly. Swifts won the quarter by two goals but knew they had a game on their hands with the Thunderbirds still leading, albeit narrowly, 30-29 at the main interval.
The third stanza had a bit of everything and with nothing to lose it was a confident and fired-up Thunderbirds who dictated proceedings. Missed shots cost the Swifts early on as Thunderbirds swooped, young defenders Kate Shimmin and Sharni Layton hassling and disrupting their more experienced opponents into coughing up turnover ball.
Emotions bubbled over at the other end of court as the home team's attackers continued to get the better of the Swifts defenders, allowing Borrego and the high work-rate of goal attack Erin Bell to help the Thunderbirds keep their noses in front. Pulling out to an eight-goal margin, the home team were paid the highest compliment when they forced Swifts into making changes.
Ashleigh Brazill came on at wing defence for Gerrard while Carla Dziwoki took over from Pratley at goal attack but it was the Thunderbirds dictating terms as they headed into three-quarter time with a 45-39 lead.
Swifts had another reshuffle of players in the run home in a last throw of the dice as the intensity grew. But expertly marshalled by captain Natalie von Bertouch, the quality shooting of Borrego and the work of their young defensive trio, Thunderbirds held on for a momentous win.
