There is a seven way tie at the top of the ANZ Netball Championship after round three results last weekend showing the competitive nature of the inaugural Transtasman competition.
But courtesy of goal percentage, the Australian teams have taken control with Melbourne Vixens, Adelaide Thunderbirds, Queensland Firebirds and NSW Swifts in the top four.
It was a poor showing from the New Zealand teams in round three with competition hopefuls, Magic and Tactix going down, while the Northern Mystics and Pulse are still to record a win. The only winning New Zealand team from the weekend was the Southern Steel downing the Tactix 51-42 after, with shooter Daneka Wipiiti exposing the Cantabrians defence.
The Tactix play the Vixens at home in Christchurch this weekend and will look to tighten up their defence, while the Magic will also look to return to winning ways against the Fever in Hamilton after their 47-50 loss to the Swifts.
The struggling Pulse will face another stern across the Tasman in Sydney against the Swifts while the in form Thunderbirds play the Steel in Adelaide in this week’s match of round 4.
ANZ Championship - Round 3 - Results
Monday, April 21
Queensland Firebirds (56) defeated Suzuki Pulse (28)
Firebirds shooting statistics
Romelda Aiken 24/25 (96%)
Joanne Morgan 18/25 (72%)
Janelle Lawson 10/10 (100%)
Tamsin Greenway 4/7 (57%)
Pulse shooting statistics
Jamilah Gupwell 16/23 (70%)
Susan Tagicakibau 8/10 (80%)
Amber Bellringer 4/8 (50%)
Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel (51) defeated SKOPE Tactix (42)
Steel shooting statistics
Daneka Wipiiti 38/51 (75%)
Megan Dehn 13/16 (81%)
Tactix shooting statistics
Jodi Brown 30/36 (83%)
Anna Thompson 8/13 (62%)
Hayley Stockman 4/7 (57%)
Sunday, April 20
Adelaide Thunderbirds (39) defeated Melbourne Vixens (38)
Thunderbird shooting statistics
Kristen Hughes -17/24 (71%)
Natalie Medhurst - 22/23 (96%)
Vixens shooting statistics
Caitlin Thwaites- 24/32 (75%)
Sharelle McMahon - 14/19 (74%)
Saturday, April 19
West Coast Fever (49) defeated LG Northern Mystics (45)
Fever shooting statistics
Nikala Smith - 7/12 (58%)
Bianca Franklin - 27/30 (90%)
Caitlin Bassett - 15/15 (100%)
Mystics shooting statistics
Cathrine Latu - 34/42 (81%)
Jade Topia - 6/10 (60%)
Paula Griffin - 5/8 (63%)
NSW Swifts (50) defeated Colourplus Magic (47)
Swifts Shooting Statistics
Catherine Cox - 31/38 (82%)
Susan Pratley - 19/22 (86%)
Magic Shooting Statistics
Irene van Dyk - 29/32 (91%)
Maria Tutaia - 18/23 (78%)
Competition Ladder after Round 3
2008 ANZ CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 3
| TEAM | PLAYED | WON | LOST | POINTS | GOALS FOR | GOALS AGAINST | GOAL % |
| Melbourne Vixens | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 150 | 124 | 121% |
| Queensland Firebirds | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 156 | 136 | 115% |
| Adelaide Thunderbirds | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 135 | 125 | 108% |
| NSW Swifts | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 147 | 139 | 106% |
| Colourplus Magic | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 149 | 144 | 103% |
| SKOPE Tactix | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 140 | 139 | 101% |
| Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 145 | 145 | 100% |
| West Coast Fever | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 136 | 147 | 93% |
| LG Nothern Mystics | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 141 | 153 | 92% |
| Suzuki Pulse | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 111 | 158 | 70% |
Round 4 Draw
Saturday, April 26
Firebirds v Mystics 2:30pm, Brisbane Convention Centre, Brisbane
Magic v Fever 2.30pm, Mystery Creek Events Centre, Hamilton
Sunday, April 27
Thunderbirds v Steel 1.00pm, ETSA Park, Adelaide
Monday, April 28
Tactix v Vixens 7.00pm, Westpac Centre, Christchurch
Swifts v Pulse 7.00pm, Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre, Sydney
*All times local
