NSW Swifts beat Adelaide Thunderbirds by one goal, as Collingwood thumps Lightning

The NSW Swifts have survived a furious late rally in a nail-biting 45-44 Super Netball win over the Adelaide Thunderbirds at Netball SA Stadium.

Untidy and scrappy for the most part, the match reached a dramatic climax on Wednesday night when the reigning champions Swifts, up by seven points, could not register a score in the dying minutes.

Meanwhile, the Thunderbirds went 6-0 with two Georgie Horjus super shots and two Lenize Potgieter regulation goals to close the gap to one goal.

Adelaide had one last chance to steal victory but were left heartbroken when wing attack Maisie Nankivell was called for contact with 40 seconds remaining when she collided with Allie Smith.

The contentious off-the-ball decision handed possession back to the Swifts, who kept the ball until the final siren sounded, which was drowned out by the boos of displeased Thunderbirds supporters.

«It was not pretty netball, but our new motto is 'find a way', so we found a way somehow,» Swifts goal defence Maddy Turner said.

«We knew it was going to be a struggle.»

The defensive work of Turner and the physical Sarah Klau was critical for the Swifts.

The Thunderbirds were also led by their defence, Jamaicans Shamera Sterling (eight gains, four rebounds) and Latanya Wilson (11 deflections) keeping NSW's lead in relative check throughout.

Eighteen-year-old Sophie Fawns had her troubles with Sterling early but came alive in the fourth, scoring regularly and extending the Swifts' lead before Adelaide's late charge fell agonisingly short.

«I thought after the first 15 minutes this would be one of those games where you've just got to stick with the ugliness, grind it out,» Swifts coach Briony Akle said.

«I'm super proud they did it.»

COVID-hit Collingwood defied the