Swifts through to Grand Final

The Sydney Swifts are the first team through to the Commonwealth Bank Trophy grand final, after a comprehensive 52-42 victory over the Adelaide Thunderbirds on Friday night.

The Swifts started the game in ominous form, as they scored the first five goals of the first quarter. Swifts defenders Liz Ellis and Alison Broadbent made life difficult Adelaide shooters Kristen Heinrich and Natalie Medhurst, as they forced errors out of the usually slick Adelaide attacking line.

A time out saw the Thunderbirds regroup, and gradually pull the margin in. Ellis continued to inspire her team with some thrilling intercepts, while Swifts goal attack (GA) Susan Pratley displayed her trademark agility and accuracy in the Swifts goal circle. It was the midcourt defence of the Thunderbirds which kept the Thunderbirds in the game, as they bottled up the centre third for the Swifts, forcing the Swifts midcourt into some passing errors.

The second quarter started in a scrappy fashion, with Heinrich and Medhurst missing numerous attempts at goal. While Ellis and Broadbent consistently produced rebounds, the Swifts were unable to capitalise on these, throwing some wayward passes in their attacking line. Eventually it was the Swifts who settled first, with goal shooter (GS) Catherine Cox proving to be a tower of strength up front, hauling in many aerial passes while under intense defensive scrutiny.

The outstanding defensive pressure of the Swifts ensured there were no easy passages into the Thunderbirds goal circle, and the Swifts steadily increased their lead, to go to the half time break leading 29-19.

The third quarter proved the most decisive for the Swifts, as they opened up an assailable lead. The Thunderbirds tweaked their midcourt, however this move proved unsuccessful, as the attacking flow of the team broke down even further. The Swifts defence restricted the Thunderbirds shooters to just seven goals for the quarter, while down the other end, Cox continued her shooting spree, nailing all eleven of her attempts for the quarter.

Thunderbirds wing defence (WD) Natalie Von Bertouch gained some precious deflections and intercepts for her team, however these were often wasted by the Adelaide attacking line, who were suffering badly under the intense physical glare of the Swifts defence. By ¾ time the Swifts had opened up a twenty goal margin, to lead 46-26.

Both teams made wholesale changes for the last quarter. The Thunderbirds introduced Demelza Fellowes at goal keeper (GK), while the Swifts opted to test the depth of their bench, bringing on Erin Bell at goal shooter (GS), Vanessa Ware at wing attack (WA) and Jackie Murphy at wing defence (WD).

The revamped Swifts attacking line struggled for cohesion in the final quarter, with Fellowes using her long arms to pick up any wayward passes. The speed and flow of the Thunderbirds attacking line increased substantially, with midcourters Laura and Natalie Von Bertouch being able to find easy access to their shooters for the first time all game.

The Thunderbirds won the final quarter 16-6, however it was too little too late, with a brilliant first three quarters from the Swifts, setting the platform for a ten goal victory.

The victory saw the Swifts advance directly to the grand final, which will be held at the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre, on September 1st. The Thunderbirds will have another chance to make the grand final when they take on defending champions, Melbourne Phoenix, at ETSA Park on Friday night.

•  Have a view on this story? Send us your feedback!