Swifts fall short in electrifying ANZ Championship Grand Final

The latest chapter in the NSW Swifts versus Queensland Firebirds rivalry has come to a close, with a resurgent Swifts going down 69-67 in double extra time during an electrifying ANZ Championship Grand Final.

For the second year in a row the Swifts fell agonizingly short of winning the title, following their one point loss to the Firebirds in 2015 final. The final was also the fifth encounter for the two sides this season, Queensland’s victory giving them the upper hand with four wins to one.

Playing deep in enemy territory at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, the lead changed 15 times throughout the game and the Swifts led at the end of the first quarter. However that soon changed as the Firebirds struck back in the second stanza.

Firebirds sharp shooter Romelda Aiken may have become the first player to reach 5000 goals in the history of the Trans-Tasman competition, however she was well below her shooting average of 87.5 per cent in the final as Swifts defender Sharni Layton did everything she could to unsettle her opponent.

Up front both Caitlin Thwaites and Susan Pettitt were in good form for the Swifts to shoot 34 from 41 and 30 from 39 respectively, as the Swifts returned from a five-goal deficit in the fourth term, to level the scores 54-54 and send the game into overtime.

The pressure built up further as the two seven-minute periods of extra play failed to decide a winner. The Firebirds led 61-59 at the end of the first extra period, but gritty determination from the Swifts saw them level the game 66-all at the end of the second period.

With more than 10,300 fans on the edge of their seat, it would be the first team to lead by two that claimed victory. Thwaites converted for the Swifts off the back of a Layton rebound for NSW to hold the upper hand initially, however three successive goals from Aiken sealed the game for Queensland.

A shattered Layton said she was proud of NSW and congratulated the Firebirds for their effort, especially game winning shooter Aiken.

“The crowd was phenomenal and I’m so proud of my team,” Aiken said.

“I just had to get the ones I could. Romelda is phenomenal, I reckon she’s by far the best shooter in the league.

“It bloody hurts, but they were the best team by far all year. I hope they enjoy it because they deserve it.”

Meanwhile Swifts Head Coach Rob Wright said he was happy with the way his team performed in the final.

“I thought last year’s grand final was the greatest game I’d seen, but today was just amazing,” Wright said.

“Obviously I’m gutted by the result and for the team, but am so proud of how they fought out there today.

“It was also amazing to see so many of the Swifts Family there. There were times when we could hear them over all of the Firebirds fans and really helped us stay in the contest right to the death.”

With their second straight title the Firebirds have become the only team in the history of the Trans-Tasman competition to win back-to-back titles.