Giants Netball v NSW Swifts

The Swifts have claimed bragging rights over their NSW counterparts defeating 2018 minor premiers Giants Netball for just the second time in their history.

Standout performances from Swifts defenders Maddy Turner and Sarah Klau proved the difference in the 63-56 win.

Last week was the first time that the whole Giants squad was available to train together including for new recruit Caitlin Bassett who was returning from a minor arm fracture.

The Australian Diamonds captain was benched early in the final quarter as the Swifts’ lead swelled to seven goals.

Paige Hadley proved to be the difference feeding a match-high 25 goal assists to Sam Wallace, who had a shooting percentage of 94, and Helen Housby. 

The Swifts were missing injured pair Kate Eddy and English representative Natalie Haythornthwaite from their lineup. However, it didn't seem to faze them as they had the better of the early exchanges, leading by two goals at the first break.

But the Giants hit back early in the second, taking the lead through back-to-back Jo Harten goals and Bassett, who helped herself to 10 goals for the quarter to give them a two-goal lead.

Swifts coach Briony Akle urged her defence end to take risks and that's what Turner and Klau did to help wrestle back the lead and push out in front but they weren't out of the woods with Harten sparking a run of three Bassett goals to end the quarter.

Klau and Turner were on fire again early in the final term, securing back-to-back turnovers to take the lead out to seven, and prompting a major Giants shake-up, with Harten moved to goal shooter and Kiera Austin installed at goal attack.

But with the Swifts continued to control proceedings in their attack end and tick the scoreboard over.