Swifts make it two in a row

The NSW Swifts have maintained their perfect record in season 2014 with a 68-57 win over New Zealand’s Mainland Tactix in round two of the 2014 ANZ Championship at Christchurch’s CBS Arena on Sunday.

Swifts’ Head Coach Rob Wright was forced into making changes to the team which won their opening game last Sunday against the West Coast Fever, with Brooke Miller making her ANZ Championship debut in place of the injured Paige Hadley and defender April Letton replacing Sharni Layton, who was a late withdrawal with an injured thumb. There was also a new face in the shooting circle with Carla Dziwoki starting for Caitlin Thwaites.

Wright was delighted to claim the two points and praised his team’s impressive full court defence. “I’m very pleased with the win. When you travel a long way you want to get the job done,” Wright said.

“I thought we shot well in this game and that’s one factor, but I think it’s probably the work across the four quarters we did defensively that won us the game.”

The win puts the undefeated NSW Swifts into second place on the ladder, behind the Melbourne Vixens and above the Adelaide Thunderbirds, with only points difference separating the three teams who all have four points.

The NSW Swifts continue their 2014 campaign on the road away to the reigning Premiers, the Thunderbirds next Monday.