Sport

Pulse flatline in Sydney

18:26 pm on 8 May 2016

The New South Wales Swifts have dismantled the Central Pulse with a 79-41 in Sydney.

Pulse captain Katrina Grant shakes the hand of Swifts' Susan Pettitt Photo: PHOTOSPORT

There were few chinks in an impressive Swifts armoury, the home team rebounding in style after last week's loss to the Queensland Firebirds to post their highest ever score and biggest ever win in the Championship.

In an individual highlight, match MVP Caitlin Thwaites surpassed her previous personal best shooting performance of 47 goals with a 50-goal haul.

The intent from the Swifts was clear from the outset, accuracy and speed on attack backed up by huge defensive pressure laying the platform for a dominant outing.

Irrepressible goal keeper Sharni Layton stamped her mark early, the lively and athletic defender getting her hands on plenty of turnover ball.

The Swifts hustled and pressured the Pulse into countless errors, the home team showing pinpoint accuracy with the through-court transition to their shooters.

Pulse shooters Maia Wilson and Ameliaranne Wells showed their accuracy under the ring to return a 100 per cent success rate but just didn't get enough ball as the Swifts raced to the first break with a commanding 21-11 lead.

Defensive switches and the introduction of Te Amo Amaru-Tibble for Wilson did little to change the Pulse's fortunes, the Swifts clicking into overdrive on the resumption.

With Kimberlee Green and Paige Hadley ruling the roost in the midcourt, the Swifts were dynamic on attack, the pair finding an easy passage to the circle edge.

While a high turnover rate continued to plague the Pulse, the accuracy and speed from the Swifts on attack complemented by the intuitive instinct between shooters Caitlin Thwaites and Susan Pettitt propelled the home team to an impressive 39-19 lead at half-time.

Both teams made changes for the third quarter.

Well in control, the Swifts injected Stephanie Wood into goal attack and Abbey McCulloch into goal defence.

For the Pulse, it was all about trying to restrain the home team.

Newcomer Samon Nathan replaced Chelsea Locke at wing attack and Claire Kersten took over at wing defence but the changes did little to improve the visitor's fortunes, the rampant Swifts holding their opponents to single digits for the second successive quarter when leading 61-27 at the last break.

The Swifts maintained their speed and composure in the final term to run away with the 38-goal win.

The Pulse coach Tanya Dearns said the defeat was humiliating.

"Hats off to the Swifts they're a very, very quick team. We just didn't play smart enough when it came to looking after each other and putting the ball into good space. Pretty embarrassing really."