Netball: Pulse fade against slow starting Swifts

The New South Wales Swifts avoided a repeat of their history-making loss to the Central Pulse with a resurgent 50-36 trans-Tasman netball league victory at Sydney Olympic Park today.

The only franchise ever placed in a position to avenge a loss to the competition strugglers initially made hard work of their task before comfortably atoning for last year's 52-53 loss in Wellington.

The Swifts were far from compelling but an unassailable 10-0 scoring burst at the start of the penultimate term was enough to protect their unbeaten record and leave the Pulse in a familiar predicament - winless after four rounds.

Australian goal attack Susan Pratley, tearful after the round 13 meeting in 2009, was all smiles in her 100th match today, dominating the Swifts goal production after veteran Catherine Cox was rattled early.

Cox, who made just 58 per cent of her shots as the Swifts needed extra time to beat the Canterbury Tactix last weekend, was astray with her first two attempts as English defender Ama Agbeze initially made life difficult.

Agbeze's international teammate Sonia Mkoloma exerted similar pressure on Pulse captain Jane Altschwager but, fortunately for the underdogs, Silver Fern Paul Griffin found her range instantly.

Griffin's 10 perfect attempts allowed the Pulse to stun the home crowd by carrying a five-goal advantage into the second quarter.

The Pulse's lead was trimmed to 25-22 at the main break an ominous sign before the Swifts finally exerted their dominance in the midcourt and defensive circle.

Crucially the Pulse shooters were dormant for the opening seven minutes of the quarter, powerless while Pratley and Cox made the most of smooth service from a rearranged midcourt.

A heavily penalised Kimberlee Green's move to centre and the introduction of Vanessa Ware at wing attack improved the service to Pratley while Mkoloma and fellow defender Rebecca Bulley gave Griffin and Altschwager little scope to set up under the hoop.

The prolific Griffin was limited to just two attempts and Altschwager a half dozen while at the other end Cox eventually zeroed in with a nine from from 11.

That trend continued in the final quarter as the Swifts effortlessly built on a 38-31 lead - critically for the Pulse they were allowed just 11 goals after halftime.

Pratley marked her milestone with 27 from 31 attempts while Cox closed with 23 from 32.

Griffin notched 86 per cent (18/21) before being spelled in the final quarter for Te Amo Amaru-Tibble, who made two from four as the Swifts defence refused to button off.

Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie was left to rue her side's drop in intensity and urgency in the back half of the contest.

``It's deeply frustrating. It's not the losing that worries you, it's how you do it. We just need a little bit more continuity and consistency,' she said.

``We just couldn't even get the ball in the back half from the centre pass. They (Swifts) were mobile and worked extremely well together. Sonia (Mkoloma) coming out of the circle had an impact, she was intimidating.'

Griffin was subbed in a forlorn attempt to give the Pulse more mobility in the circle.

``We were trailing quite heavily at that point and were keen for people to get the ball straight to post,' McCausland-Durie said.

- NZPA