ANZ Championship netball rd 6: Swifts record win, Firebirds stay unbeaten, rare NZ win on Aussie soil
THE Swifts produced the best netball — and most records — of any team, the Firebirds extended their winning run and there was a rare NZ win on Aussie soil. NETBALL WRAP
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THE Swifts produced the best netball — and most records — of any team in the ANZ Championship in round six.
Disappointed in their performance against the Firebirds a week wallet, the Swifts had a point to prove.
And that’s just what hey did against Central Pulse.
New Zealand side Steel kept intact her winning run with a rare victory over an Australian side on this side of the Tasman.
And the Firebirds and Romelda Aiken were at it again, notching their 19 straight win.
What we learned from round six of the ANZ Championship in our NETBALL WRAP.
NSW SWIFTS V CENTRAL PULSE
Beware the Swifts when they are wounded.
That was the message from the thrashing handed out to a hapless Pulse in round six.
With clinical precision the Swifts produced the game they wished they had pulled out a week earlier when their undefeated run was ended by the Firebirds.
And with the win came records — and lots of them.
It was the highest sore ever reached by the Swifts in a game.
The 38-goal victory was the biggest winning margin the club has achieved.
And sharpshooter Caitlin Thwaites hit 50 goals for the first time in an impressive display under the net in the 79-41 blowout.
Match MVP Caitlin Thwaites’ previous personal best shooting performance was 47 goals.
Swifts Shooting Statistics
Caitlin Thwaites 50/53 (94%)
Susan Pettitt 16/18 (89%)
Stephanie Wood 13/15 (87%)
Pulse Shooting Statistics
Maia Wilson 17/19 (89%)
Ameliaranne Wells 16/21 (76%)
Te Amo Amaru-Tibble 8/11 (73%)
MVP: Caitlin Thwaites (NSW Swifts).
SOUTHERN STEEL V ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS
The season just keeps getting worse and worse for the Thunderbirds.
The team went down 69-54 to Steel in a rare loss on Australian soil to a New Zealand side.
The victory was the biggest ever for Steel against Thunderbirds and marked the first victory by a New Zealand team on Australian soil.
Again Steel shooter and MVP Jhaniele Fowler-Reid starred for her club with her incredible 60 goal haul.
The Steel are with the Firebirds the only two undefeated teams in the NZ championship after six rounds.
Steel Shooting Statistics
Jhaniele Fowler-Reid 60/70 (86%)
Te Paea Selby-Rickit 6/6 (100%)
Brooke Leaver 3/9 (33%)
Thunderbirds Shooting Statistics
Carla Borrego 40/50 (80%)
Stephanie Puopolo 7/9 (78%)
Erin Bell 7/10 (70%)
MVP: Jhaniele Fowler-Reid (Steel).
QUEENSLAND FIREBIRDS V MYSTICS
Another round, another win for the Firebirds and this time it was a hefty one.
The Firebirds defeated Mystics 70-42 in the first thrashing of the round on Saturday.
The victory delivered coach Roselee Jencke a record-equaling 70th ANZ Championship win.
The match also saw the debut of Chelsea Lemke who came on for injured shooter Gretel Tippett.
Now boasting an unbeaten run of 19 games, the Firebirds recorded their most emphatic victory over Mystics with the 28-goal margin.
Firebirds Shooting Statistics
Romelda Aiken 52/57 (91%)
Chelsea Lemke 10/13 (76%)
Gretel Tippett 8/10 (80%)
Mystics Shooting Statistics
Maria Tutaia 23/33 (70%)
Megan Craig 10/15 (67%)
Cathrine Tuivaiti 9/9 (100%)
MVP: Romelda Aiken (Firebirds)
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