The Highlander-led team went down 55-54 in a very close match against the Collingwood Magpies Netball Club at the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre.

It was a game that could have gone either way right up until the last play as the Swifts put together a fine performance against their powerful Victorian opponents who just got home at the death.

NSW Swifts Head Coach Rob Wright said he was obviously disappointed with the loss but heartened with the display his team put in.

"My big mantra is that we should be better than the last time we played and I thought we showed some really good growth again," he said.

The opening exchanges were typically fast and furious and both sides had to weave their way through opposition defences to score. The Swifts fell just behind in the first quarter with and trailed 11-6 before Wright called a timeout. 

With time to regroup the Swifts were firing again. Abbey McCulloch was full of energy in the midcourt and fed well to have the Swifts within two, forcing Collingwood into a timeout of their own. At the first break the gap was three (11-14) and it was game on.

The midcourt battle between the Swifts and the Magpies turned into a fascinating one as the teams went goal for goal at the start of the second quarter.

Before long, however, the Swifts started to up the ante. The team secured vital turnovers in the defensive circle and fast service. Midway through the period the Swifts had the lead - 21-20 - and the home fans were in full voice.

But the Swifts were pushed hard by the Magpies as the game went on. At the big break scores were locked at 27-all. 

Five minutes out from the last break the sides were still locked together at 36-36 before good interplay gave the Magpies a two-goal lead. The momentum was with Collingwood and they pressed on to take a four-goal buffer to three-quarter time.

The Swifts kept up the intensity and with 10 minutes on the clock the sides were level again at 46-46. More fantastic interplay between Hadley, McCulloch and Proud was rewarded as Housby and Wallace converted to put the Swifts two up before three in a row from Collingwood swung the game in their favour again.

With one minute to go the game was locked up again at 54-54 but in Magpies got the job done.