The Collingwood Magpies have recorded their first win of the Super Netball season, defeating the Adelaide Thunderbirds 70-50.
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Playing their first home game this campaign, Magpies Netball proved too strong for the less-experienced Thunderbirds on Saturday night at Hisense Arena, despite losing midcourter Kim Ravaillion before the match with a knee injury.
The Magpies led by five goals at halftime and outscored the Thunderbirds 18-8 in the third quarter to put the result out of reach, finishing with eight competitions points for winning every quarter.
Caitlin Thwaites was a dominant figure in attack for the Magpies with 55 goals at 96 per cent accuracy, while former Lightning captain Erin Bell scored 15 goals against her old club.
After losses to the Vixens and Fever to open the season, Magpies coach Kristy Keppich-Birrell was happy to see her side maintain their performance across the four quarters.
"I think it was a game that really built. The scoreboard doesn't really reflect the pressure between the two teams," Keppich-Birrell said.
"I think across the game, we stuck to our processes and the outcome came."
Jamaican-born shooter Shimona Nelson finished with 37 goals from 42 attempts for the winless Lightning, who suffered their third heavy loss.
The Thunderbirds grabbed an early lead with Nelson looking dangerous, but the Magpies soon took control of the quarter, scoring four goals from turnovers to establish a 17-13 lead.
Collingwood kept rolling in the second quarter, extending the lead to eight goals with a series of trademark Sharni Layton intercepts bringing large cheers from the home fans.
But the Thunderbirds closed the half with four of the last five goals, cutting the Magpies' lead to 32-27 at the main break.
The Lightning closed the gap to four goals early in the third quarter, but the home side quickly took over with Thwaites sinking 14 of 15 shots, including seven goals in a row, to build an unassailable 50-35 lead with one quarter to play.
The Magpies return on Sunday week to Margaret Court Arena to face the struggling Sunshine Coast Lightning, the defending champions yet to open their account for the season. The Thunderbirds will host the Melbourne Vixens.
Australian Associated Press
