The brilliance of Georgie Horjus has steered the Adelaide Thunderbirds to a 54-50 win over Collingwood of their Tremendous Netball season opener.
Horjus set Netball SA Stadium alight within the first half together with her thrilling play-making from wing assault, racking up 21 feeds and 11 assists, earlier than placing the Magpies to the sword within the capturing circle after the break.
Collingwood endured an interrupted build-up to the match with coach Nicole Richardson pressured to isolate in Melbourne after being an in depth COVID-19 contact.
Richardson was afforded particular dispensation to teach remotely and relay messages through cell phone to stand-in coach Kate Upton.
The Magpies have been additionally with out co-captain Ash Brazil, who was a late scratching after struggling concussion at coaching, however welcomed veteran England defender Geva Mentor, who was cleared after struggling a rolled ankle.
Thunderbirds spearhead Lenize Potgeiter notched her 1,000th profession objective and low season recruit Tippah Dwan made an early impression with a pair of tremendous pictures to assist flip an early 9-12 Adelaide deficit right into a 16-13 quarter-time lead.
Collingwood, piloted by excellent shooter Shimona Nelson (38 objectives), marginally had the higher of the center two phrases to restrict the Thunderbirds’ benefit to 41-38 at three-quarter time.
That was regardless of the brilliance of Horjus, whose two late super-shots gave Adelaide the momentum on the final change.
The house facet responded to a late Collingwood rally with a 5-0, four-minute run to place the guests away for good.
Potgeiter and Mentor waged a decent battle all afternoon, whereas Thunderbirds skipper Hannah Petty led from the entrance with a giant second half.
Molly Jovic was sensible for the Magpies, each within the center and defence, however Collingwood finally had no solutions for the versatile Horjus.
Harm fear for Swifts in slender loss to Giants
A doubtlessly severe damage to star shooter Sam Wallace was the ultimate blow for the NSW Swifts as they began their Tremendous Netball title defence with a 57-55 loss to native rivals the Giants.
With simply over 12 minutes to go at Ken Rosewall Area within the rematch of the 2021 grand closing, the Trinidadian sharpshooter slipped and collapsed to the court docket clutching her proper knee and screaming in ache.
Medical employees from each groups tended to her for a number of minutes earlier than she was helped off the court docket.
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Trailing by three on the time, the understandably distracted Swifts conceded the following 5 objectives however bravely rallied and minimize the hole to simply two contained in the final two minutes.
The Giants expertly retained possession for the rest of the sport, not permitting the Swifts one other shot.
It was simply the second out of the previous seven NSW derbies performed in Sydney and a crowd of 7261 produced a cracking environment.
Earlier than Wallace’s damage, not more than 5 objectives separated the 2 fierce rivals in a hard-fought derby.
The away crew Giants scored the primary 4 objectives however the Swifts hit again to guide 14-12 on the first break.
Nevertheless, the Giants held the lead for a lot of the sport with mid-courters Jamie-Lee Value and Maddie Hay excelling and the uncharacteristically sloppy Swifts making 22 turnovers.
Wallace’s direct opponent Matilda McDonell additionally shone, taking up much more duty with Diamonds defender April Brandley enjoying simply the primary half as she was on managed minutes.
Wallace headed all scorers with 33 from 37 makes an attempt.
Sophie Dwyer made 28 off 33 for the Giants and Jo Harten 25 of 34.
AAP