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SYDNEY - The NSW Swifts finals hopes received a massive boost last night as they comfortably accounted for the Adelaide Thunderbirds 51-41 in the ANZ netball championship at Olympic Park Sports Centre in Sydney.
The Swifts' fifth win in a row lifts them into equal second with the Melbourne Vixens on the championship standings.
The Thunderbirds, whose loss was their first loss on Australia soil, slip out of the top four, with just two rounds of regular competition remaining.
Swifts coach Julie Fitzgerald made five changes to last week's winning line-up, most notably leaving in form keeper Adelaide Johnson on the bench.
It took the Swifts most of the error-ridden first quarter to find their combinations and while it wasn't pretty, they went to the first break up 12-9 and increased their lead to 24-20 by halftime.
In front of a capacity home crowd, the Swifts ran away with the game in the third quarter, outscoring the visitors 16 goals to nine before capping a gritty performance to win by 10 goals.
Catherine Cox gave another dynamic show, top scoring for the match with 33 goals at 85 per cent and was well supported by Susan Pratley who collected 18.
Thunderbirds held the lead midway through the second period at 18-17 but while their defensive effort was strong, they failed to treasure possession and made too many mistakes.
Tight defence from Swifts defenders Rebecca Bulley and Kimberlee Purcell kept Natalie Medhurst, the competition's most prolific scorer, quiet.
The Thunderbirds go-to girl made just seven goals from eight attempts in the first half and finished with just 17 from 18 attempts.
Kristen Hughes (2/4) came on at shooter to replace Kate Beveridge (22/25) in the third but after making just two goals from her four attempts, Beveridge was reintroduced in the final quarter.
The mid-court battle between Australia squad members Natalie von Bertouch and Swifts' Kimberlee Green proved to be a fiery.
Green, replacing regular centre Selina Gilsenan, was outstanding and did well to close down the options in the Thunderbirds' mid-court and squeeze off supply to the goal circle.
Up against Von Bertouch, who's largely responsible for the Thunderbirds holding the mantle as the best defensive team in the competition, Green's efforts were superb.
- AAP
