Vixens 33
The NSW Swifts booked their place in the trans-Tasman netball competition finals while the Melbourne Vixens await the result of a later New Zealand game to see whether their season is finished.
The Swifts triumphed over the Vixens 45-33 to snatch the third play-off position, joining the Waikato/Bay of Magic and the Queensland Firebirds who were already assured of berths in the four-team finals.
If the Mystics, who went into the final round locked on 16 points with NSW and Melbourne, beat the Southern Steel, who they are facing in Invercargill, they will take the final spot.
If they lose, with the match due to finish around 6.30pm AEST, it will come down to percentage.
The full house of over 9,000 at Hisense Arena in Melbourne was unable to cheer their side home, with the Swifts taking control of the match in the third quarter.
Veteran goal shooter and skipper Catherine Cox and goal attack Susan Pratley combined to give their side a match-winning lead.
Pratley, quiet in the first half of the match, nailed five goals from five attempts, while Cox hit nine from 12 for the visitors to take a 33-26 lead heading into the final quarter.
Until then the high-tempo match was an even affair.
The Vixens, who lost Australian skipper and goal attack Sharelle McMahon mid-season to an Achilles injury, started well with her young replacement Tegan Caldwell and shooter Kate Beveridge on target to take the early lead.
English import Geva Mentor did a stirling job of shutting down the Swifts shooters.
With their midcourters lifting their game, NSW hit back to level at 6-6 with just over four minutes remaining in the quarter however the home side steadied for a 9-8 lead by the break.
By halftime the sides were level at 19-19 and Melbourne coach Julie Hoornweg brought Test defender Julie Corletto into the game while Swifts coach Julie Fitzgerald used the physical Mo'onia Gerrard.
NSW started with a bang, with Cox grabbing three and Pratley two as they raced to a five point lead before the Vixens got on the board again.
With the margin out to seven goals heading into the final term, the Swifts maintained the pressure and came away with the coveted result.
NSW Swifts 45 (Catherine Cox 33 Susan Pratley 12) Melbourne Vixens 33 (Tegan Caldwell 16 Kathleen Knott 9 Kate Beveridge 8). Halftime: 19-19.
- AAP
