Adelaide Thunderbirds v Melbourne Vixens

The Vixens remain unbeaten in 2019 after defeating the Thunderbirds 58 to 42.

It was a complete performance from start to finish by the Vixens, who dominated the home team for most of the game and came away with all eight premiership points on offer for the second week in a row.

The Thunderbirds hung on, thanks to some long-range shooting by Maria Folau.

Thunderbirds goal keeper Shamera Sterling was red hot throughout the game, finishing with five intercepts, six deflections and an incredible 13-gains. She was everywhere and made life difficult for Vixens shooters Caitlin Thwaites and Tegan Philip.

The game took a rough and tough turn after the first, as the teams went goal for goal for much of the second quarter.

However, the Thunderbirds were down to just one on the bench after new recruit Beth Cobden went down with a knee injury and co-captain Chelsea Pitman left the court with an injury.

Melbourne exploded out of the gates in the second half, outscoring the Thunderbirds and breaking out to a 13-goal lead at the final break.

Jo Weston and Kadie-Ann Dehaney, who replaced an injured Emily Mannix in the second quarter, were immense for the Vixens in defence, combining for seven intercepts and ten gains.

Sunshine Coast Lightning v Queensland Firebirds

The Lightning have dominated the Queensland derby, trouncing the Firebirds to keep them winless in 2019 with a 71-56 win

Ugandan recruit Peace Proscovia announced herself the newest shooting star with 53 goals for the match.

Proscovia played her first full game of the season and at times looked like threatening Jhaniele Fowler’s single-game scoring record, pouring in 17 goals as the Lightning led 21-15 at quarter-time.

Firebirds were hit with a late injury withdrawal when captain and wing defence Gabi Simpson was ruled out just before the game.

However, it was their second quarter where the unravelled with wayward passing costing them dearly and the Lightning running riot as they piled on seven goals in a row to extend their lead. 

In a desperate bid to quell Proscovia’s influence, Firebirds coach Roselee Jencke threw superstar goal shooter Romelda Aiken into goal keeper to start the third quarter.

The Jamaican legend looked right at home at the opposite end of the court, coming up with four gains and another two deflections while curbing Proscovia’s aerial dominance and troubling Lightning goal attack Steph Wood’s shot.

The Firebirds won the quarter 17-15 to give themselves a sniff, and threw everything at the Lightning early in the final quarter but they couldn’t capitalise, with errors again hurting them.

NSW Swifts v West Coast Fever

The Swifts have won their third straight match with a record 80-66 victory over the Fever to tie the league’s single game goals record.

The Fever held strong early, going goal-for-goal for much of the first quarter and it took only 13-minutes for Jhaniele Fowler to score her 1000th Super Netball goal.

She is only the sixth athlete to do so and with one less season under her belt than most after joining the Fever last season. This would help her side to a five-goal lead at the first break.

The Swifts changed up their midcourt during the quarter-time break and the decision gave a boost to the home side.

Swifts’ goal shooter Sam Wallace continued her accuracy at the post, an effort that earned her the Player of the Match accolade. 

Taken by Stephanie Meek (@stephaniemeekphotography)

The entire third quarter was fiercely contested with the momentum shifting back and forth. 

The Fever debuted Sunday Aryang who was brought into the team as the replacement for team captain Courtney Bruce. It was a tough ask for the 18-year-old to restrain a smooth-moving Swifts goal circle in Helen Housby and Sam Wallace. 

The final quarter saw the Swifts take a stranglehold on the match, with the Fever struggling to stifle an exceptional Swifts goal circle which eventually took the Swifts to a record 80 goals for the match.

Giants Netball v Collingwood Magpies

The Giants have secured their first win of the season, defeating Collingwood 58 to 50 on Sunday night.

It was a ferocious start to the match, with both teams hitting the ball hard and asserting their playstyle on the game early.

With so many changes to the squad from last season, the home side looked disconnected in the early stages of the season but against the Magpies, it started to click.

The Magpies had a sloppy second quarter and struggled to get any flow into their game, as the Giants took a 26 to 23 goal lead into the break.

Shimona Nelson played a lone hand for the Magpies in attack, shooting 43 goals. Coach Rob Wright will be looking for a way to get Nat Medhurst and Gabi Sinclair more involved as the season progresses.

The Giants continued to frustrate the Magpies in the final term with young-gun Amy Parmenter having a huge game at wing defence.

She was instrumental in stifling the Magpies fluid ball movement and offered an outlet pass to her teammates all game.