Swifts fall in Firebirds heartbreaker as Fever keep top two hopes alive

Thunderbirds hunt down Vixens | 02:14The NSW Swifts’ season is all but over after falling to a shock 61-60 loss to rivals the Queensland Firebirds on Sunday.

The result ensures the Firebirds kept their slim Super Netball finals hopes alive, as they sit just one win behind fourth-placed Sunshine Coast Lightning – who they meet next weekend. But they found their groove in the second quarter, using their speed to stay a step ahead of the Swifts defenders Sarah Klau and Teigan O’Shannassy and narrowed the gap to one at the main break.

The victory keeps them within striking distance of top two, and a precious double chance in the Super Netball finals, while the result has shut the door on the Giants’ finals hopes, leaving them anchored to the bottom of the ladder. The Fever, who sit equal lowest for the number of intercepts taken this season, struggled to shut down the dynamic duo of Giants’ captain Jo Harten and Sophie Dwyer as both found their sweet spot from long range.

Fever wing attack Alice Teague-Neeld took MVP honours with 36 goal assists and two pick ups, while Jamie-Lee Price dominated at centre for the Giants.The Melbourne Mavericks’ hopes of a maiden finals berth is still alive after goal attack Gabby Sinclair’s final quarter heroics in the one-goal win over Sunshine Coast Lightning.

The match was far from a perfect example of netball as both teams played with desperation to give themselves the best chance of playing finals. For the Lightning, Liz Watson was nearly unstoppable as she notched 54 feeds and 33 centre receives, but she’ll be disappointed as her side’s finals chances are now in jeopardy as a result of the loss.THUNDERBIRDS CLAIM TOP-TWO TUSSLE

“There was disconnect. We were at a standstill too much and not doing the short and sharp and letting the ball go,” she said.

Final Quarter Heroics Jo Harten Dan Ryan Alice Teague-Neeld England Wing Defence Panic Mode Sunshine Coast Gabrielle Sinclair Kadie-Ann Dehaney Finals Hopes Point Lead One-Goal Win Jess Anstiss Grand Final Northern Europe Europe Perth Julie Fitzgerald Donnell Wallam Amy Parmenter Lauren Frew Final Gap Superior Percentage Final Term Western Australia Tayla Fraser Nail-Biting Win Fever Wing Attack Adelaide Front Line Minus Grand Finalists Maiden Finals Berth Oceania South Australia Ankle Injury Shoot Goals Mavericks Players Steph Fretwell Supershot Period Goal Attack Finals Chances Getty Images Inc. Australia And New Zealand Goal Assists Kate Moloney Giants Coach Pick Ups Confidence Booster Super Shots Liz Watson Coach Simone Mckinnis Katie Walker Emily Moore Finals Door Coach Tracey Neville Australia Premiership Credentials Queensland Lightning Captain

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