- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The NSW Swifts have a chance to secure a home grand final when they take on minor premiers Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic in a trans-Tasman netball semi-final on Sunday.
The Swifts, who were equal first with the Magic on 20 points at the end of the regular season, but second on goal percentage, are on a ANZ championship record winning streak with seven consecutive victories.
Another win this week in Hamilton, New Zealand, would continue their superb late-season momentum and hand them the enormous advantage of hosting a home grand final.
But an ominous Magic side stands in their way.
Magic hold a perfect home-court winning record and the Swifts will need to bounce back from a taxing travel schedule.
The Swifts flew back to Sydney tonight following their 62-54 win over the West Coast Fever in Perth. On Friday they will make the trip across the Tasman to Hamilton to prepare for Sunday’s clash.
The Magic and Swifts last met in Newcastle in round three where the Swifts came out on top 50-47.
Even the betting agencies can’t split the competition leaders with both teams listed at $2.30 by TAB Sportsbet to take out the inaugural ANZ Championship title.
If the Swifts fail in their quest for automatic progression to a home grand final, they get a second chance in the preliminary final, where they’ll face the winner of the Adelaide and Melbourne semi, for a place in the decider.
The sudden-death semi-final between the Thunderbirds and the Vixens will also be a closely fought encounter with a place in the preliminary final up for grabs.
The teams have met twice this season and each have a win, the Thunderbirds snuck a one-goal win in round three, then the Vixens hit back with a six-goal win in Adelaide in round seven.
Vixens captain Sharelle McMahon said her fourth-placed team enjoys playing in Adelaide and they’re confident of getting a win.
“We’re very pleased to be in the finals, we would have liked to have been a little bit further up the ladder, but we made the finals and that’s all that counts,” she said.
“We would have preferred obviously to have a home final, but heading over to Adelaide to play that’s the way it is, and we’ve had success there this year and we’re quite confident.”
Whether instrumental Vixens centre Natasha Chokljat will return from a knee injury remains unclear but she will travel with the team and will be given until the night before the match to prove her fitness.
For the loser of the Adelaide-Melbourne match, it’s the end of the road while the winner will face the loser of the Magic-Swifts match on July 21 for a place in the July 28 grand final.
Preview of this weekend’s netball semi-finals (all times AEST).
SUNDAY (major semi-final)
WAIKATO/BAY OF PLENTY MAGIC (1) v NSW SWIFTS (2) at Mystery Creek Events Centre, Hamilton, 1500.
Head to head: Swifts 1, Magic 0.
Last met: Round 3, Swifts 50 bt Magic 47 at Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Newcastle.MONDAY (minor semi-final)
ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS (3) v MELBOURNE VIXENS (4) at ETSA Park, Adelaide at 1830.
Head to head: Thunderbirds 1, Vixens 1.
Last met: Round 7, Vixens 52 bt Thunderbirds 46 at ETSA Park, Adelaide.* The winner of the major semi-final will host grand final on July 28.
* Loser of Sunday’s major semi-final will play winner of the minor semi-final in a preliminary final on July 21, for a place in the decider.TAB Sportsbet odds to win competition:
NSW SWIFTS $2.30
WAIKATO/BOP MAGIC $2.30
ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS $6.00
MELBOURNE VIXENS $11.00