SAM WALLACE SHOWED NERVES OF STEEL TO DRAIN THE MATCH-SAVING SHOT AS THE NSW SWIFTS SALVAGED A 59-59 DRAW WITH THE MELBOURNE VIXENS IN THEIR SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL CLASH AT HISENSE ARENA.
The Vixens led at every change, and by five goals with seven minutes left, but could not hold off the fighting Swifts.
Wallace finished with a game-high 43 goals, but the shooter was almost shaded by a breakout game from Vixens defender Emily Mannix who kept the Swifts feeders guessing all night.
Mwai Kumwenda’s 39 goals at 91 per cent was eye catching but she was shut down in a tough defensive effort from the Swifts in the last quarter.
Not much separated the interstate rivals until late in the first quarter.
Vixens wing attack Liz Watson took charge of a close contest with a series of classy touches that put her side in the lead.
She drilled three deadly-accurate feeds in succession to keep a steady flow of possession up to targets Kumwenda and Tegan Philip.
The Swifts fought back and won the second quarter but there always seemed to be one act of desperation, or a slick play, that kept the Vixens at arm’s reach.
Until now Mannix had been finding her way in the starting line-up after Geva Mentor’s off-season defection to the Sunshine Coast.
The defender finally looked right where she was meant to be when she swatted a Sam Wallace shot, then minutes later grabbed an intercept that the Vixens quickly shifted to the opposite end for a steadying goal.
And what a relief it must be to have a bankable performer like Philip who sank a crucial goal to establish a 31-28 lead at halftime.
Pressure from Abbey McCulloch and Maddy Turner helped generate some possession for the Swifts in the early stages of the third quarter.
Their work forced some loose passes from the Vixens as the Swifts drew closer.
Every time the Swifts went on a mini run, the Vixens, often through Mannix or some collective hustle, found a way to hold off last year’s grand finalists.
The Swifts trailed by five at the final change and surged determinedly in the last quarter.
Every ball was contested, and it did not surprise to see centre rivals Kate Moloney and Maddy Proud spreadeagled on the court after fighting for a pass.
