National netballer, Samantha Wallace continued her impressive form in the Suncorp Super Netball League when she led New South Wales Swifts to a narrow 51-49 defeat of Adelaide Thunderbirds at Quay Centre, Sydney, Australia, on Saturday.
Coming off her best match of a the season in which she scored 43 goals from 48 attempts in a 64-54 defeat of Collingwood Magpies, the 24-year-old Wallace scored ten of 12 attempts in the first quarter and England international Helen Housby added, five from five attempts for a 15-14 lead.
The second period was more of the same for the Wallace and the Swifts and she added further 13 goals from 16 attempts while Housby got three from five for a 16-11 second quarter win and 31-25 half-time advantage.
The Thunderbirds brought Sasha Glasgow into the third quarter for her first netball this season, and a 9-6 run to cut the deficit to two goals as Wallace was limited to seven goals from as many attempt and Housby only managed half of four efforts on goal.
Despite some late turnovers the Thunderbirds were able to win the quarter 12-9 and win their first bonus point of the season to trail 37-40 heading into the final term, and within a few minutes of the start of the final period, Thunderbirds slashed the gap to just one, with Wallace replaced by Sophie Garbin.
The game then looked set for a thrilling finish as with two minutes left, the Thunderbirds levelled the scores and effected a steal for a chance at the go-ahead goal seconds later.
However, intercepts from Paige Hadley and Abbey Mc Culloch ended their late run, though, and secured the win for the Swifts.
There was some consolation for the Thunderbirds, who claimed two bonus points for winning the third and fourth quarters—their first competition points of the season.
Wallace ended with 30 goals from 34 attempts over three quarters of play to carry her season tally to 161 from 183 attempts, Housby netted 15 from 20 and Garbin, six of nine while for Thunderbirds, Jamaican Shimona Nelson converted 33 from 39 attempts, Abigail Latu-Meafou 12 of 14, and Sasha Glasgow four of eight.
The win improved Swifts to 4-2 on the season and 26 points in fourth spot, nine behind table toppers, West Coast Fever (5-1) while Giants Netball (4-2) and Sunshine Coast Lightning (3-3) are second and third, respectively, with 28 points each.
Mc Collin’s Mavericks slip up at Team Bath
England-based national women’s team Goal Shoot, Kalifa Mc Collin had a quiet afternoon as her benecos Mavericks slipped to a 45-54 loss at Team Bath in the England Vitality Netball Super League at University of Bath Sports Training Village, Bath, Somerset, England on Friday.
With both teams in the battle for a top four finish and playoff spot, a tense encounter was expected and the host, five-time tournament champions were soon in control, only just with a 16-14 first quarter lead.
The second quarter was more of the same as Mavericks duo, Mc Collin and Karyn Bailey were confronted by a stifling defence from Team Bath who again won the quarter, 14-11 for a 30-25 half-time cushion.
Mc Collin and her team-mates did their best to claw their way back into the contest but Team Bath won the third quarter as well, 13-10 to push their lead to 43-35 before closing out the final quarter, 11-10 for a 54-45 triumph.
Mc Collin ended with 16 goals from 18 attempts and Bailey was a perfect 29 of 29 attempts in the loss for Mavericks who dropped to 10-4 and 30 points in fourth spot, the same as Team Bath, which trails on goal-difference.
Wasps stayed top of the ten-table despite losing only its second match of the campaign and now sits at 12-2 and 36 points, level with Loughborough Lightning which has played a match more (12-3) while Manchester Thunder is alone in third with an 11-3 mark and 33 points.
