Australia

NSW Swifts win second Super Netball title in three seasons, dominating Giants



The NSW Swifts are Super Netball champions for the second time in three seasons, beating cross-town rivals the Giants 63-59 in the grand final in Brisbane.

Almost nothing could separate the two New South Wales sides this season, as they headed into the decider with the same number of wins, losses and goals scored.

But in the biggest game of the year, the Swifts stood tall, led by goal shooter Sam Wallace’s stunning accuracy.

Wallace scored 48 goals from 50 attempts, in addition to landing three two-point super shots.

Swifts goal attack Helen Housby said winning the championship was even more rewarding following the challenges COVID-19 presented throughout the competition.

“It was like a tour of Australia with games thrown in,” Housby told Channel Nine.

“All the sponsors and back room staff. It’s not easy to do this. It was a privilege to keep playing.”

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Giants captain Jo Harten, who scored 28 goals and six super shots, said she was immensely proud of her side’s effort.

“The overwhelming sense I’m feeling is pride at the moment, pride in the girls stepping up,” she said.

The Giants were trailing 45-37 with 30 seconds left before the Power 5 period of the third quarter.

They got one goal back before that period and Harten knocked down a super shot just as it began, but that was where their scoring ended for the term.

At the other end, Wallace continued an excellent day under the rim for the Swifts, draining two late shots to take a 49-40 lead into the last quarter.

The scoreline ballooned out to 61-50 heading into the all-important last five minutes of the game, when the desperate Giants leaned heavily on the super shot.

Harten and Sophie Dwyer found their radar and cut the Swifts’ lead to six with two minutes left, forcing their opponents to call a timeout.

But a critical intercept from Housby halted the Giants’ momentum, and turned into two straight Wallace goals.

It was the second appearance in the Super Netball grand final for both teams.

While the Giants were chasing their maiden premiership, the Swifts were aiming to add to titles from 2008 (trans-Tasman championship) and 2019, as well as four trophies in their previous incarnation as the Sydney Swifts.

The Swifts won the 2019 title when they beat Sunshine Coast in the decider, the result denying the Lightning a hat-trick of titles.

The Giants made the inaugural grand final in 2017, losing to the Lightning.



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