AUSTRALIA’S second tier netball competition kicked off its new format in Traralgon yesterday, with four matches back-to-back allowing fans to enjoy some up-and-coming talent across the country. Cheered on by local primary school children, Vic Fury ensured they left the Gippsland Regional Sports Centre happy, while Queensland Sapphires, Collingwood Magpies and GIANTS Netball also won on day one. Here’s a recap of how the matches went down.

VIC FURY 16 | 15 | 15 | 20 (66)
SC LIGHTNING 13 | 14 | 16 | 15 (58)

Vic Fury kicked off the 2022 Australian Netball Championships with an impressive win over a determined Sunshine Coast Lightning by eight goals. In a neck-and-neck contest across the first three quarters, the Fury kept building small leads only for the Lightning to reduce the deficit back and keep themselves in the contest. By the final break, just three goals separated the sides, and the Lightning continued to get within reach even into the last five minutes. But off the back of the reliability of Emma Ryde late, the Fury scored the last five goals of the match to record a 66-58 victory.

Ryde finished the match with 49 goals from 53 attempts, also pulling down four rebounds in the process. She was well supported by Vixens’ Ruby Barkmeyer who shot 14 goals from 16 attempts, and recorded 26 goal assists from 32 feeds. Fellow Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) experienced midcourters Hannah Mundy and Tayla Honey were also busy, while Olivia Lewis picked up a game-high four intercepts in defence. Annika Lee-Jones shot 45 goals from 51 attempts up the other end, while Annie Miller helped herself to a game-high 27 goal assists from 33 feeds. Chloe Litherland, Emma Walters and Bridey Condren were challenged against a more experienced midcourt and attack but fought hard for the most part.

SWIFTS ACADEMY 9 | 16 | 15 | 13 (53)
QLD SAPPHIRES 18 | 11 | 12 | 18 (59)

Queensland Sapphires won a see-sawing contest in the second game, overcoming NSW Swifts Academy by six goals. Racing out to an 18-9 lead at the first break, the match looked almost done and dusted in the opening 15 minutes. But then a few changes made at quarter time by the Swifts saw them incredibly force their way back into the contest, and even hit the front in the third term. They continued to battle, and while the Sapphires again opened up a lead early in the fourth term, the Swifts kept fighting pulling in some crucial intercepts and deflections to give themselves a chance. To the Sapphires’ credit they held firm, winning the last quarter by five and coming away with the 59-53 victory.

Leesa Mi Mi impressed through the midcourt with 27 goal assists from 30 feeds, while Charlie Bell (46 goals from 50 attempts) and Mia Stower (13 from 14) were both impressive in the shooting circle. In defence, the work rate of Hulita Veve stood out, picking up three intercepts but eight goal assists, while Remi Kamo and Ashleigh Ervin were also impressive. Alison Miller shot 43 goals from 45 attempts, while the rotating midcourt of Chelsea Mann (nine goal assists, two intercepts), Jessica Conlan (12 goal assists) and Audrey Little (eight goal assists) were able to rotate across the various roles in defeat.

COLLINGWOOD 20 | 19 | 14 | 16 (69)
CAPITAL DARTERS 14 | 10 | 13 | 14 (51)

Collingwood flexed its Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) experience over the Capital Darters on the Magpies’ way to a convincing 18-goal win in the third game of the day. The Magpies dominated the first half, and though the Darters were able to pick up a number of key deflections and intercepts up their defensive end, also turned the ball over too much on transition. The Magpies went ahead by 15 goals at the main break, and had a clear mission to rotate the entire 12-player squad, ending up playing all 12 members. The shuffling of magnets and taking off the SSN experienced players later in the game lead to a closer contest, but the Magpies still came away winning both quarters narrowly and securing the 69-51 win.

Jane Cook (26 goals at 100 per cent efficiency) and Nyah Allen (10 goals from 13 attempts, eight goal assists from eight feeds) proved a deadly combination in the square despite the best efforts of Olivia Coleman. Midcourter Maggie Lind provided a match-high 24 goal assists from 28 feeds, as well as an intercept. In the second half, the Magpies were able to give all players a crack, with Victorian Netball League (VNL) talents in Casey Adamson (four intercepts), Olivia Wilkinson (16 goals from 18 attempts) and Uneeq Palavi (17 from 21) all stepping up. One eye-catcher was goalkeeper Ramayer Gourley who picked up four intercepts and showcased her athleticism from the start. For the Darters, Taylah Davies worked hard for 25 goal assists but also had nine turnovers as she was by far the most experienced netballer out there for her team. Millie Roach (28 goals from 38 attempts) had her moments, while Amber Brophy shot 10 from 15, and had five goal assists and four rebounds despite being outsized.

TASMANIA 2 | 5 | 11 | 11 (29)
GIANTS NETBALL 17 | 16 | 18 | 12 (63)

In an eerily similar game to the one before but with even more dominance early, GIANTS Netball came away with a 34-goal victory over an inexperienced Tasmanian outfit. The GIANTS had a number of SSN tried and tested talents while the Apple Isle outfit simply did not have that same experience. It showed on the scoreboard as the GIANTS raced out to a 33-7 lead at half-time. As the GIANTS rotated their players in similar fashion to the Magpies, Tasmania was able to lift its own scoring and even only lose the final quarter by a goal. It mattered little on the end result though, as the GIANTS skipped away with the huge 63-29 victory.

Matisse Letherbarrow shot 20 goals from 24 attempts and pulled down two rebounds in just 23 minutes, while Angelina Frketic (27 goals at 100 per cent) was unstoppable under the post. The likes of Lauren Moore (one rebound, one intercept) and Amy Sligar (four goal assists, two intercepts) provided extra SSN experience, while it was another Moore and Sligar (Emily Moore and Natalie Sligar) who combined for 16 goals from 17 attempts. In midcourt, Eliza Burton shone with 23 goal assists, while Emma Thompson had 16 and a couple of intercepts for her troubles. Ashlea Turner top scored for Tasmania with 10 goals from 14 attempts, while Grace Pullen helped herself to nine from 11 and played out at wing attack too. Shelby Miller (seven goal assists, two intercepts) was an impressive performer in midcourt.