ANZ Championship netball 2016: What we learned from round two of the league

THERE were cheers and tears in a drama-packed second round of the ANZ championship. Find out who starred and who has work to do in wrap.

Amanda Lulham

@amandalulham

2 min read

April 13, 2016 - 3:08PM

THE NSW Swifts were the stars of the show in round two of the ANZ Championship.

The team again exploded out of the blocks for a record score against Magic.

The Melbourne Vixens managed to rebound from their first up loss but a terrible injury to a young player from the Adelaide Thunderbirds marred the match.

Cody Lange goes down injured against the Vixens.

There was the competition’s first draw in New Zealand.

And shooters again played a major role in the fortunes of their clubs.

All this and more in the round two wrap of the ANZ Championship.

NSW SWIFTS V WBOP MAGIC

What a ripper.

This game proved the Swifts stunning start to the season was no fluke.

The score was a record against Magic and the club with the teams best previous highest tally of 70 against West Coast Fever back in 2011.

The Swifts took the match over a side lead by their old coach Julie Fitzgerald 78-50 after two 22-goal periods.

Again Laura Langman and Kim Green starred for the Swifts with top shooting another strength.

Laura Langman is making a smooth transition to the Swifts.

NSW Swifts shooting statistics:

Susan Pettitt 25/29 (86%)

Caitlin Thwaites 39/41 (95%)

Stephanie Wood 8/8 (100%)

Amy Sommerville 6/6 (100%)

WBOP Magic shooting statistics:

Jo Harten 23/26 (88%)

Malia Paseka 17/22 (77%)

Paula Griffin 3/5 (60%)

MVP: Kimberlee Green (Swifts)

QUEENSLAND FIREBIRDS V CENTRAL PULSE

It was record-equalling time for the Queensland Firebirds who defeated Pulse 61-45.

The victory, which also marked the 50th game for Kim Ravallion, extended the defending champions wining run in the competition to 15.

The run has equalled the winning streak of the club set back in 2011.

Gretel Tippett fighting for the ball against Pulse.

A highlight for the New Zealanders was the starring role young shooter Maia Wilson played for the team.

The teenager shot an excellent 23 from 25 in the match.

Firebirds shooting statistics:

Romelda Aiken 38/41 (93%)

Gretel Tippett 22/25 (88%)

Beryl Friday 1/3 (33%)

Pulse shooting statistics:

Maia Wilson 23/25 (92%)

Ameliaranne Wells 21/30 (70%)

Te Amo Amaru-Tibble 1/1 (100%)

MVP: Gretel Tippett (Firebirds)

Plenty of defensive pressure on the Firebirds against Pulse.

WEST COAST FEVER V MYSTICS

West Coast Fever came from behind to keep Australia’s records against New Zealand teams intact for another round.

Fever, an aide many are tipping to make a real mark in the competition this season, took the match 54-44 after a late surge in the final period.

The match also saw former basketballer Megan Craig — the tallest player in the league at 2.03m — make her ANZ Championship debut for Mystics.

Craig was a staggering 13cm taller than her defender Courtney Bruce and made a big impression before leaving the court with a cramp.

Mystics Shooting Stats:

Megan Craig: 13/20 (65%)

Maria Tutaia: 27/34 (79%)

Cathrine Tuivaiti: 4/6 (67%)

Fever Shooting Stats:

Caitlin Bassett: 40/44 (91%)

Natalie Medhurst: 14/17 (82%)

MVP: Shae Brown (Fever)

Caitlin Bassett was in fine form for Fever.

VIXENS V THUNDERBIRDS

The Melbourne Vixens bounced back from a first-up loss to the Swifts for their 59-44 victory over the Adelaide Thunderbirds.

While the Vixens showed set improvement it appears the Thunderbirds will struggle this season to match it with the best with their latest loss Cody Lange who suffered a knee injury during the match and was stretchered off the court.

It was the first win as captain for Madi Robinson whose sister Kelsey Brown joined the match late.

Robinson is on the return from a knee injury with her performance far more impressive than her round one outing.