Swifts 52 Vixens 63
SYDNEY - The Melbourne Vixens have cruised to a 63-52 victory over the NSW Swifts in the transtasman netball competition at Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre on Monday night.
The Vixens led at each change and held a 45-43 advantage heading into the final quarter, in what was a closely fought battle until the final 15 minutes, where the visitors stepped up their class, dictated the pace of the game, and ran away with the match.
The 11-goal victory sees the Vixens return to their winning ways after suffering their first loss of the season to the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in Hamilton last week, while the Swifts stay rooted to second last on the ladder after suffering their sixth-straight loss.
The Swifts looked like the premiership winning outfit of last year as they stuck with the Vixens until the final quarter but not even the sellout home crowd of 4,200 could get them home.
Swifts centre Kimberlee Green stepped up her game from previous weeks and was a constant option in attack despite being matched against Natasha Chokljat, while top pressure from Vixens wing defence Renae Hallinan appeared to have Swifts Vanessa Ware's measure.
Vixens shooter Caitlin Thwaites was in fine form nailing 47 from 52 attempts at 90 per cent accuracy while Sharelle McMahon gave good support with 16 goals.
Swifts captain Catherine Cox was back to her best, nailing all 13 of the home side's first quarter goals as brilliant defence by Julie Corletto and Bianca Chatfield kept Susan Pratley out of the game early.
Cox finished with 32 goals at 84 per cent but will be left ruing two crucial shots missed in the final quarter.
Pratley scored 20 goals from 22 attempts to finish with 91 per cent accuracy.
The fierce interstate rivals were evenly matched during the opening quarter with tight cross-court defence from both sides forcing uncharacteristic errors in attack which balanced out to see the Vixens head into the first break 14-13.
The Swifts lifted and jumped out to a three-goal lead midway through the second quarter, but the Vixens steadied through a couple of timely intercepts to Corletto to go to the main break with a 29-28 lead, increasing the margin by two-goals at the last change.
- AAP
