AFTER a pandemic induced hiatus, the Team Girls Cup is back and underway for 2022. Night one of the tournament saw plenty of exciting netball for fans to enjoy, and even a draw for good measure. Day one winners were the West Coast Fever, Melbourne Vixens and Adelaide Thunderbirds.

NSW Swifts (43) drew with Sunshine Coast Lightning (43)

The first Team Girls Cup match for 2022 ended in a draw, with both the NSW Swifts and Sunshine Coast Lightning finishing on 43 goals apiece.

The opening term was quite an even one. A lot of free and fast flowing netball was on show for fans to enjoy, with very few errors from either side. At the first break it was the Swifts who held a four goal-lead.

In the second quarter the Swifts started to really take control of the game, and lead by nine goals. Things were drastically different in the third term, and the Lightning were the much better side. They completely erased the Swifts’ lead and thanks to a Super Shot on the buzzer from Steph Wood the Lightning took a two goal lead into the final term.

The final term was much like the first. It was a very even term, with a lot of free and fast flowing netball. The final few moments were frenetic, with the scores dead even and the Swifts passing it around like they were desperate to avoid a turnover. The Lightning had a shot that went in a second after the buzzer went off so it did not count, and the match ended in a 43-goal apiece draw.

For the Swifts, the likes of Maddy Proud and Paige Hadley were particularly impressive, while for the Lightning Steph Wood was on fire in the shooting circle.

West Coast Fever (47) defeated GIANTS Netball (41)

West Coast Fever proved too good for GIANTS Netball in the second game, getting up by six goals.

The first quarter saw the GIANTS race out to an early lead, but the Fever clawed their way back. At the first break it was a two-goal lead to the GIANTS. It was goal for goal for much of the second term, but after a late super shot the Fever were able to take a one-goal lead into the main break.

The Fever extended their lead early in the third term, and although the GIANTS came back at them the margin was still two in favour of the Fever as the teams turned for home.

Although looking promising early in the final term, once the pressure and mistakes started to come from the GIANTS things unravelled slightly. They were still within a handful of goals of the Fever but the pressure from the Fever was causing plenty of mistakes. In the end the Fever were just too strong, winning by six goals (47-41).

For the GIANTS, Sophie Dwyer and Jo Harten were working really well together as a partnership in the goal third, meanwhile for the Fever Jhaniele Fowler was just a solid, tall target in that shooting circle, really using her height to her advantage.

Melbourne Vixens (45) defeated Queensland Firebirds (37)

Hosting the event at Parkville, the home team Vixens had plenty of support and managed to get the job done against Queensland Firebirds, winning 45-37 in the third match of the day.

It was goal for goal early in the first term, before the Vixens got away to an early lead. The Vixens were on fire early in the first term, and had a seven goal lead at the first change. Although the Firebirds came back at them a little in the second term, the margin still remained seven at the main change.  

The Firebirds came right back at the Vixens in the third quarter and by the time the teams turned for home the margin was a mere three goals. The Firebirds’ resurgence continued in the final term, and they even took the lead early in the term. However, much to the Vixens credit they took back control and the lead. They raced back out to a handy four goal lead and kept building from there. In the end they took the win by eight goals (45-37).

For the Vixens, Rahni Samason was particularly impressive in the goal third, and was the reason the Vixens were able to get such a handy early lead. Meanwhile further down the court Vixens fans would have been pleased to see co-captain Liz Watson back in Vixens colours and back at her best after an injury hampered last 12 months.

Meanwhile for the Firebirds, it was Gretel Bueta who particularly stood out. Her shooting accuracy was seriously impressive, and the only shots she missed all game were three super shot attempts.

Adelaide Thunderbirds (45) defeated Collingwood Magpies (30)

Adelaide Thunderbirds announced their intentions for season 2022, with a comprehensive 15-goal win over a slow-starting Collingwood Magpies.

The Magpies looked the much better side in the opening minutes of the first term, but then the Thunderbirds kicked into gear and took the lead off them. At the first break the margin was four goals in their favour. That lead just grew even more for the Thunderbirds in the second term. Their defensive pressure in particular was very impressive, certainly making the Magpies’ shooters work particularly hard for every shot they had. By the main break the margin has stretched out even further to 10 goals.

The Thunderbirds continued their impressive display in the third terms and kept growing their lead even further. At the final break the margin had blown out to 17 goals. For the Thunderbirds, their defensive end was particularly impressive. The defensive pressure of the likes of Shamera Sterling and Latanya Wilson made the Magpies shooters really work for and earn every shot they got.

The Magpies had a much better final term, and kept chipping away at the Thunderbirds lead. Unfortunately it was a case of too little too late for the Magpies as the Thunderbirds went on to win by 15 goals (45-30). For the Magpies, Geva Mentor defensive work was seriously impressive despite the pressure she was under for much of the game. Shimona Nelson was also impressive up the other end, and very accurate. She did not miss a shot all game.

Today’s Matches

AM Session

11am Adelaide vs West Coast
12pm GIANTS vs Collingwood
1pm Sunshine Coast vs Queensland
2pm Melbourne vs NSW

PM Session

5pm Adelaide vs GIANTS
6pm West Coast vs Collingwood
7pm Queensland vs NSW
8pm Sunshine Coast vs Melbourne