Australian teams came out with the honours in the first round of the inaugural ANZ Championship played over the weekend.
The Melbourne Vixens pulverised the Central Pulse (Wellington) 50-33 while the Sydney Swifts proved too good for the Southern Steel 53-42.
But New Zealand’s highest rated team the Magic showed why they are one of the competition favourites edging out the visiting Adelaide Thunderbirds 46-42 in Rotorua on Monday night. There were match-ups aplenty particularly in the goal circle as Silver Fern shooters Maria Tutaia and Irene Van Dyke had a torrid battle with Australian enforcer Mo’onia Gerrard and English international Geva Mentor. Magic defenders Jolene Henry and Casey Williams had good games in the backcourt while captain, centre Amigene Metcalfe was instrumental taking out the player of the match honours. The Thunderbirds led 36-33 going into the final quarter, but fatigue set in as the home side held them to just six goals in the last fifteen minutes.
In other games, the Northern Mystics went down in an upset to the visiting Canterbury Tactix 48-44. The Mystics led at half time, but the Tactix fought back to take the game with centre Julie Seymour outstanding in her personal tussle with former Silver Fern Temepara George. Jodi Brown (nee Te Huna) was also accurate on the shooting end.
Across the Tasman the Queensland Firebirds came from behind to beat the Western Fever, thanks to giant Jamaican shooter Romelda Aiken. The 19 year-old potted thirteen goals in a row in the last quarter to steal the win after the Fever led by five goals after the third quarter
Results – Round 1
Magic (46) def. Thunderbirds (42)
Swifts (53) def. Steel (42)
Tactix (48) def. Mystics (44)
Firebirds (48) def. Fever (46)
Vixens (50) def. Pulse (33)
Points Ladder
| TEAM | W | L | PLD | PTs |
| Vixens | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Swifts | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Magic | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Tactix | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Firebirds | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Fever | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Mystics | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Thunderbirds | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Steel | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Pulse | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Draw: Round 2 - 12/04/2008
Tactix v Swifts, Westpac Arena, Christchurch ,12/04/2008, 2:30PM
Vixens v Firebirds, State Netball Hockey Centre, Melbourne, 13/04/2008 1:30PM
Magic v Mystics, Energy Events Centre, Rotorua, 13/04/2008, 5:30PM
Fever v Thunderbirds, Challenge Stadium, Perth, 14/04/2008, 6:00PM
Pulse v Steel, TSB Bank Arena, Wellington, 14/04/2008, 7:00PM
* NZT
