Lightning strike down Swifts in netball
Defending champions Sunshine Coast Lightning have produced a crucial clean sweep of the Sydney Swifts, continuing their late-season Super Netball surge with a 61-51 victory.
Starting the penultimate round match in fifth, but only one point behind third-placed Melbourne Vixens, the Lightning were desperate to bolster their finals hopes with a dominant win and they duly delivered at home.
Led by their international defensive duo of Karla Pretorius and Geva Mentor, Sunshine Coast won every quarter to scoop all four bonus points and propel themselves into the top four.
A final round away win over the Vixens would guarantee the Lightning a play-off spot, and the margin of their win also gives them a mathematical hope of an unlikely home semi-final.
After posting a 31-point thrashing of Adelaide last week - the biggest in the competition this season - the 2017 premiers are hitting their straps at the right time of the year.
The Swifts, who beat the Lightning by three in round seven for their last win, had their moments and started the better of the two teams to be up 8-6 midway through the first term at USC Stadium.
But it was Pretorius who produced a vital intercept which turned the momentum, before another by the South African goal defence saw the home side clinch the first term 17-13.
It began a trend for the match where Pretorius would expertly snuff out any rearguard action by the Swifts who continued to fight hard each quarter and threaten to bridge the gap but were unable to claim a bonus point.
Teaming with captain Mentor, the Coast duo were a constant thorn in the side of the Swifts goalers
At the other end of the court, Diamonds goal attack selection Steph Wood was in superb touch for the Lightning, landing shots from long range, while Caitlin Bassett proved too strong for Sarah Klau.
Mid-courter Laura Scherian was also a pivotal performer for the Lightning in a non-stop display.
Sunshine Coast now sit on 63 points, equal with table leaders West Coast Fever who met the Vixens (56) on Saturday night, while the Giants (61) play the Magpies on Sunday and the Firebirds (55) are favourites at home against the Thunderbirds.
