COLLINGWOOD Magpies ran over the top of Victorian rival Melbourne Vixens in the final of the Suncorp Super Netball #TeamGirls Cup held in Queensland over the weekend. The Vixens went into the match undefeated, while the Magpies did enough in their wins over West Coast Fever and New South Wales Swifts to qualify despite a last round loss to GIANTS Netball. The Vixens seemed to have it all going their way early on, scoring nine goals to seven in the first term, and 10-9 in the second. But it was the Magpies who came out firing after half-time, completely taking control and scoring 23 goals to 14 with the goal circle on song and the defensive pressure troubling the Vixens in the 39-33 victory.

Many eyes would have been on Vixens shooter, Caitlin Thwaites who switched from the Magpies to return to the cross-state rivals over the off-season, but instead it was Tegan Philip, and Thwaites’ replacement, Shimona Nelson who caught the eye in the first half. Philip scored 13 goals from 15 attempts in the first half, while Nelson slotted 14 from 17 as the pair looked dangerous for their respective sides. Thwaites scored six from nine and was replaced at half-time by South African goaler, Ine-Mari Venter. The new combination resulted in just the six goals, while Nelson continued her scoring run with 10 from 12, but had a massive four rebounds in the term, to hand the Magpies a two-goal lead at the final break.

The Magpies showed no fear to rotate players throughout the contest given their embarrassment of riches in the midcourt, as Kelsey Browne, Madi Robinson, Kim Ravaillion and Melissa Bragg all rotated through the three positions. Bragg had three crucial interceptions in the second half, showing her defensive pressure, and staking a claim as the key backup to star wing defence Ash Brazill, who was not in the team due to her AFL Women’s commitments the night before. Thwaites returned to the action in the fourth and neither her nor Philip missed a shot, but only had the eight opportunities as the Magpies sunk 12 from 13, with 11 coming from the hands of Nelson. While Nat Medhurst only scored the one goal in the final term, she produced six assists, as she and Madi Robinson (eight second half assists) made the difference through the midcourt.

With Nelson finishing off the efforts of Robinson and Medhurst, and Bragg stopping multiple Vixens attacks, it was also the defensive trio of Geva Mentor, April Brandley and Matilda Garrett who stood up in crunch moments. Mentor was terrific on the dangerous Thwaites, while Garrett and Brandley kept the opposition guessing with three combined intercepts. For the Vixens, Liz Watson and Kate Moloney produced 22 goal assists and 39 feeds between them, but ultimately the difference between the teams was the defensive pressure. The Magpies had six less turnovers, and with Nelson able to control the airways that were restricted by Mentor up the other end, it was Collingwood who emerged victorious, turning around the half-time deficit to salute and take out the #TeamGirls Cup ahead of the regular season.

In other results, Sunshine Coast Lightning took third place for the tournament with a two-goal win over GIANTS Netball. Peace Proscovia was dead accurate with 23 goals all on target, while Steph Wood added 16 from 18. For the GIANTS, Kiera Austin sunk 25 from 27, while Jo Harten finished with 19 from 22. A game-high goal assists to Laura Scherian (18) as well as 24 feeds was important, while Amy Parmenter had 16 and 22 for the GIANTS.

The Swifts finished in fifth with a one-goal win over the Queensland Firebirds, holding onto an early six-goal lead as the Firebirds scored 24 goals to 19 in the last half to storm home but ultimately fall short. Sam Wallace converted all her 30 attempts, while Gretel Tippett did the same from her 17 chances. Tara Hinchliffe tried hard in defence for the Firebirds with three intercepts and two deflections, while Mahalia Cassidy had 20 goal assists and 28 feeds. Sophie Garbin was ultimately the difference in the attacking end with 12 goals from 16 attempts, 13 goal assists and 16 feeds in an all-round performance for the winners.

Meanwhile the battle of the winless sides resulted in somehow both sides remaining winless, as Adelaide Thunderbirds and West Coast Fever drew. Leading by three goals at the final break, the Fever had gradually built a lead, but an 8-5 final term saw the Thunderbirds level the scores at the final whistle. The Fever eased last year’s leading goal scorer, Jhaniele Fowler back into the action, shooting at 100 per cent, though staying close to the ring at all times. Kaylia Stanton scored 11 from 17. while Sasha Glasgow shot 13 from 14 for the Thunderbirds. Alice Teague-Neeld had a game-high 11 goal assists, while Shamera Sterling would have taken out player of the match if there had been such an award, racking up a whopping seven intercepts and 10 deflections in a terrific effort on Jamaican countrywoman, Fowler.