The Magpies were clawing their way back into the game with a 15-9 run in the last quarter despite the Lightning leading by eight goals heading into the final term and had won all three previous quarters to have the game in their control.

Despite the final scoreline, Magpies coach Kristy Keppich-Birrell said she was proud of her team for their fourth-quarter fight back.

“There were some really good runs for us, and then we’d just get broken off on the fourth or the fifth goal in that run," she told Magpies media.

"That swing of momentum is massive in this league at the moment.

"We have to get better at controlling it and pushing it in our direction," Keppich-Birrell said.

It was set to be a battle as both sides were desperate for a win with the Magpies only having a win against the Adelaide Thunderbirds to their name.

The tone of the match was set early as Geva Mentor and Caitlin Thwaites collided heavily when they contested the ball.

The turnover count almost exceeded the total goals in the game during the second quarter but the Lightning came out on top before the Magpies injected Kim Ravaillion to ignite the team but Lightning continued to push their lead out.

That prompted the Magpies to move Matilda Garrett into defence with Diamond April Brandley given a spell on the bench.

It was a bittersweet victory for Lightning as coach Noeline Taurua had to return to New Zealand to be with her family.