Dominant Swifts win over Firebirds marred by injury to captain Maddy Proud
A shooting star has illuminated Super Netball while another was cruelly cut down by injury as the NSW Swifts thumped the Queensland Firebirds 68-46 in their interstate showdown.
Less than 24 hours after her arrival in the country, South African import Lenize Potgieter made a stunning Firebirds debut, shooting 24 goals at 100 per cent accuracy at the Queensland State Netball Centre but could not prevent a mauling from the competition leaders.
The win came at a cost for the Swifts who will be shaken by a serious knee injury to captain Maddy Proud.
Proud was the most influential player on the court until her right knee buckled beneath her in the third term.
Coach Briony Akle wasn't ready to put a line through Proud for the season but the post-match tears in her teammates' eyes suggested they feared the worst.
Swifts shooter Sam Wallace was in dominant form again AAP
"We'll wait for the official scans to come back. She's a tough cookie but this one's not good," Akle said.
"She's the glue but we're not going to lose that. She'll always be around, depending on how long she's out.
"She's brought great leadership to the team but the good thing is she's allowed others to lead."
The injury had little impact on the Swifts' domination.
Recent Diamonds World Cup selection Sarah Klau's outstanding season continued as she led a shutdown of Queensland's forward line.
Shooters Sam Wallace (41 goals) and Helen Housby (27) did the rest as the competition's top attacking unit rammed home their dominance.
"We thought we'd be able to compete today. But the Swifts play a very clinical game," Firebirds captain Gabi Simpson said.
The Firebirds had no answer for the Swifts' slick passing game AAP
South African imports Potgieter and Erin Burger were parachuted in as cover for injured pair Mahalia Cassidy and Tippah Dwan, and both were injected into the game in the second quarter as Queensland fought to keep in touch with the ladder leaders.
Potgieter made an immediate impact, shooting eight-from-eight in a seamless opening stint in the Australian national league.
Simpson praised the recruits who only arrived in Australia over the weekend.
"They bring energy; they're exciting and I think they're only going to get better and better," she said.
"When I say it would be nice to get some training sessions with them I mean it literally."
The trouble for the Firebirds was elsewhere.
They couldn't lay a hand on Swifts attackers Proud and Housby who sliced through the home side's defensive lines with ease.
