20 August 2007 By Graham Croker
Sydney University Sports Scholarship holder Susan Pratley turned in a near faultless shooting display to help guide Sydney TAB Swifts to a 45-37 win over Melbourne First National Phoenix in the final of the 2007 Commonwealth Bank Trophy played in front of a crowd of 8000 at Sydney`s Acer Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Goal attack Pratley shot 23 from 25 (92 per cent), while team-mate Catherine Cox shot 22 from 26 (85 per cent) to overwhelm the Phoenix and post back-to-back Commonwealth Bank trophies.
The Swifts won’t be able to defend the title again as a new Tasman Trophy incorporating New Zealand teams will be started next season.
With the Swifts and Phoenix packed with representative players, the final was of high standard. Sydney established an early lead, thanks to the accuracy of Pratley and Cox, and were never headed. They led 16-10 at quarter-time and extended their advantage to eight goals, 27-19, at the main break.
The Phoenix clawed their way back in the third quarter to cut the deficit to four midway through the term before the Swifts fought back to lead by eight heading in the final term.
Meanwhile, Fairfield City-Sydney University are assured of a semi-final berth with two rounds to play in the State League Waratah Cup competition.
FC-SU are third on the competition ladder on 25 points, behind Sydney Storm (30) and Hunter Jays (28). Ryde-Eastwood (17) should fill the other semi-final berth.
FC-SU continued a seven-match winning streak when they defeated Hills District 58-54 last Wednesday.
They will meet Sydney Storm at the Anne Clarke Centre on Wednesday night and Eastwood-Ryde the following week in the final competition round.
The FC-SU State League Division Three side will miss out on the semi-finals. The team sits ninth in the 10-team competition.
But prospects are brighter for the Division Eight FC-SU side, who are second on the competition ladder. Manly-Warringah lead the competition on 26 points, followed by FC-SU (2), Liverpool City (19) and Charlestown (17).