The NSW Swifts warmed up for next week’s Australian Conference Final with a confidence-boosting 67-53 win over the Melbourne Vixens in the Australian Conference Elimination Final in Sydney on Sunday.
The Swifts’ dominant win confirmed a rematch of last year’s Grand Final when they will meet The Coffee Club Queensland Firebirds in Brisbane on Monday night.
A damaging second quarter set the experienced Swifts up for a comprehensive outing against the Vixens. The Swifts had the luxury of making multiple changes through the match while an inexperienced shooting end meant the Vixens struggled for impact.
Absorbing the early challenge presented by the Vixens, where towering shooter Emma Ryde made an impact, the home team rounded out the opening stanza with a flourish to take a 17-13 lead into the first break.
Lifting the intensity and pace on the resumption, the Swifts’ attack line moved into overdrive to put an authoritative stamp on proceedings.
Showing their experience, shooters Caitlin Thwaites, who picked up the MVP award with a game-high 40 goals, and Susan Pettitt revelled in the atmosphere, the pair working the circle like a well-oiled machine in getting the better of their defensive opponents.
At the other end, the Swifts’ defensive end also came to light, irrepressible goalkeeper Sharni Layton being a prominent contributor as the home team powered on the pressure.
Replacements in the form of shooter Kimberley Commane and defender Emily Mannix did little to change the Vixens fortunes, the Swifts ending a rampant quarter with a 37-25 lead at the main break.
With a firm grip on the game, the Swifts replaced captain Kimberley Green with Stephanie Wood while the Vixens continued to tinker with their shooting circle during the second half.
However, there was no let-up from a red-hot Swifts who pushed their superiority across all areas of the court with a sizzling third quarter.
Hardly missing a beat with their slick transition, distribution and accuracy, the Swifts continued to increase their lead as they knocked any form of resistance out of the Vixens. None was more prominent for the Swifts than Layton, who snapped up six intercepts and three deflections in her three quarters on court.
Restricting the Vixens to just 10 goals in the third stanza, the Swifts were well on their way to lining up again next week when leading 53-35 at the last break.
