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

THE Firebirds mean business, the Swifts look ominous and Fever impress. Some of the things we learned from ANZ Championship round one.

SWIFTSD NETBALL GAME

• ANZ Championship Guide: It's game on
• Langman key in Swifts victory
• Thwaites shooting for Swifts success
• Swifts determined to protect home turf

ROUND one is done and dusted in the ANZ Championship and there is plenty to talk about.

Defending champions, the Queensland Firebird, were quick to show they mean business this year.

Mystic WA Fa'amu Ioane (L) with Steel player Stacey Peeters defending.

Last years runners-up the NSW Swifts looked ominous in their defeat of the Melbourne Vixens.

West Coast Fever showed they will be danger team this year.

The shooting was impressive and a host of players made their debut.

Here are some of the things we learned from round one.

Laura Langman makes a big impression for Swifts.

NSW SWIFTS V MELBOURNE VIXENS

THE Swifts retained the Sargeant-McKinnis Cup thanks to their surprisingly emphatic win over old netball rivals, Melbourne Vixens.

A highlight of the game was the Swifts blooding three youngsters and the ease in which Laura Langman has slotted into the line-up.

The Swifts hammered the Vixens 57-42 with their on-court speed a major factor.

The games also marked the return of Vixens captain Madi Robinson, who missed most of last season with a serious knee injury.

However the loss of goal attack Tegan Philip was sorely missed.

NSW Swifts shooting statistics:

Susan Pettitt 33/40 (83%)

Caitlin Thwaites 21/27 (78%)

Stephanie Wood 3/3 (100%)

Amy Sommerville 0/1 (0%)

Melbourne Vixens shooting statistics:

Karyn Bailey 20/24 (83%)

Alice Teague-Neeld 17/22 (77%)

Emma Ryde 4/7 (57%)

Kimberly Commane 1/2 (50%)

MVP: Kimberlee Green (Swifts)

Kim Green was MVP of the game between NSW Swifts and Melbourne Vixens.

WEST COAST FEVER V ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS

WEST Coast Fever started their season on a high note and Caitlin Bassett with a haul of 47 goals — the second highest in the round behind Jhaniele Fowler-Reid — with their 63-44 trouncing of the Adelaide Thunderbirds.

Bassett missed just two goals before heading to the sidelines in the final quarter.

Fever lived up to pre-season expectations with the win — set up with an extraordinary 23-10 second quarter.

Up by 15 at halftime, Fever gave their benches crucial time in the second half.

Adelaide's Carla Borrego pulls in a pass.

Fever shooting statistics:

Caitlin Bassett 47/49 (96%)

Natalie Medhurst 11/13 (85%)

Kaylia Stanton 5/6 (83%)

Thunderbirds shooting statistics:

Cody Lange 19/25 (76%)

Carla Borrego 17/21 (86%)

Erin Bell 8/16 (50%

MVP: Shae Brown (Fever)

Romelda Aiken battles Zoe Walker for the ball in the opening round of the season.

QUEENSLAND FIREBIRDS V TACTIX

THE Queensland Firebirds opened their season with an emphatic victory over Tactix to extend their winning run in the competition to 14 straight victories.

There was little to indicate the Firebirds will be anything but a force again in this year’s competition.

MVP Romelda Aiken was in fine form under the goal with a haul of 45 goals — the third most for round one.

The 70-55 win also ensured the Challenge Trophy stayed in Queensland.

Firebirds shooting statistics:

Romelda Aiken 45/49 (92%)

Gretel Tippett 25/31 (81%)

Tactix shooting statistics:

Mwai Kumwenda 37/39 (95%)

Bailey Mes 18/28 (64%)

MVP: Romelda Aiken (Firebirds)

A tough contest for the ball in Firebirds v Mainland Tactix. .

SOUTHERN STEEL V MYSTICS

In the closest match of the round, Southern Steel came from behind to pip Mystics 58-57 in Auckland.

Steel had lagged behind by up to six goals during the match before coming home strongly for the win.

The match also saw the debut of Mystics youngsters Holly Fowler (goal defence) and Fa’amu Ioane (wing attack).

Steel shooting statistics:

Jhaniele Fowler-Reid 48/56 (86%)

Te Paea Selby-Rickit 9/14 (64%)

Brooke Leaver 1/1 (100%)

Mystics shooting statistics:

Cathrine Tuivaiti 35/40 (88%)

Maria Tutaia 22/30 (73%)

MVP: Jane Watson (Steel).

Mystics Maria Tutaia looks to pass with Steel centre Shannon Francois defending.

Central Pulse v Magic

It was a close one with Pulse just surviving against Magic in a game another debutant starred.

Teenage shooter Maia Wilson wins the award for the most stunning debut of the round, netting 34/38 at a Hight 89% in her first ANZ championship match.

The 18-year-old is replacing injured veteran Jodi Brown.

Pulse secured the match from an intercept in the final 10 seconds.

Central Pulse shooting statistics:

Maia Wilson: 34/38 (89%)

Ameliaranne Wells: 23/27 (85%)

Magic shooting statistics:

Joanne Harten: 34/40 (85%)

Malia Paseka: 17/20 (85%)

Ellen Halpenny: 5/5 (100%)

MVP: Ameliaranne Wells (Pulse)

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Originally published as ANZ Championship netball 2016: What we learned from round one of the league