The NSW Swifts have kept their unbeaten start to the Super Netball season intact with an 80-66 victory over struggling West Coast Fever.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Swifts overcame a slow start at Quaycentre on Sunday to ease to their third- straight win, joining the Melbourne Vixens as the only sides yet to taste defeat this season.
Sam Wallace backed up last week's perfect 31-goal effort with 62 goals from 66 attempts while Helen Housby (18 goals, 14 assists) was pivotal in the Swifts' strong finish as they outscored West Coast 43-29 after halftime.
Hard working duo Maddy Proud and Paige Hadley wore down the Fever in midcourt as they combined for 58 goal assists.
"It feels really good, I know that Fever is a great team ," Wallace said after the Swifts equalled the single-game goal scoring record in the win.
"It's really kudos to us for actually pushing on to get that score."
Desperate to atone for last week's heavy defeat at home to the Sunshine Coast Lightning, the Fever built a seven-goal lead in the second quarter but a quick burst from the home side ensured honours were even at halftime.
But last season's grand finalists collapsed in the second half as they coughed up 21 turnovers to remain winless after three rounds.
The loss of captain and Diamonds defender Courtney Bruce to an elbow injury has proved costly for the Fever, who have conceded a competition-record 80 goals for the second week in a row.
Prolific shooter Jhaniele Fowler tallied her 1000th Super Netball goal late in the first quarter, the 198cm Jamaican reaching the milestone in just her second season with the Fever.
The Fever broke away late in a tight opening quarter, a run of five unanswered goals ensuring the visitors collected the first bonus point with a 19-15 lead.
That advantage extended to seven early in the second term with goal attack Kaylia Stanton finding her shooting stroke but a pair of turnovers quickly handed momentum back to the Swifts.
The Fever steadied but a Wallace goal on the stroke of halftime levelled the scores 37-37.
The Swifts then took control of the contest with a dominant 20-14 third quarter before running away with the match in the final stanza.
The Swifts will look to keep their unbeaten start going against the defending champion Sunshine Coast Lightning on Saturday while the Fever will host the in-form Vixens.
It was a good day for the Sydney sides at Quaycentre, with Giants Netball breaking through for their first win of the campaign (58-50 against premiership favourites Collingwood.
Star off-season recruit and Australia captain, Caitlin Bassett, hit her stride in the shooting circle (40 from 42), while some physical defence from Sam Poolman and Kristiana Manu'a kept the Magpies' attacking duo Shimona Nelson and Nat Medhurst largely under control.
Meanwhile, the Lightning's Super Netball title defence has taken a ruthless turn in a 71-56 derby demolition of Queensland Firebirds.
An understrength Firebirds needed everything to go right at Boondall Entertainment Centre but they remain winless after the Lightning's Laura Scherian and Peace Proscovia (53 goals) exposed some lopsided match-ups.
Wing attack Scherian's speed and court craft was peerless, feeding a landslide of goal-shooting opportunities to Proscovia.
Firebirds shooter Gretel Tippett (40 goals from 40 attempts) fought all the way in front of 3561 fans but couldn't do enough to turn the tide against an opposition who have won their last two games by an average of 20 goals.
Gabi Simpson, one of the Firebirds' heaviest contributors over the opening fortnight, was forced out on match eve with a groin injury.
NSW SWIFTS 80 (Sam Wallace 62 Helen Housby 18) bt WEST COAST FEVER 66 (Jhaniele Fowler 48 Kaylia Stanton 18) at Quaycentre. SUNSHINE COAST LIGHTNING 71 (Peace Proscovia 53 Steph Wood 18) bt QUEENSLAND FIREBIRDS 56 (Gretel Tippett 40 Romelda Aiken 10 Amy Sommerville 6) at Brisbane Entertainment Centre.