29 Jul 2008

NSW Swifts win netball championship

4:31 pm on 29 July 2008

The New South Wales Swifts beat the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic 65-56 in the inaugural trans Tasman netball championship in Sydney on Monday night.

The home side proved too strong in a fast-paced match.

NSW led 34-28 at halftime and 50-45 at the final break. They outscored the Magic 15-11 in the final quarter.

For the Swifts, Catherine Cox and Susan Pratley scored 41 and 24 each.

For the Magic, Irene van Dyk scored 45 and Maria Tutaia 11; van Dyk's accuracy rate was 98%.

The ABC reports it was a true trans-Tasman clash - representing the spirit of world netball's finest rivalry.

Swifts coach Julie Fitzgerald said afterwards: "I think it was just sensational and so gutsy."

Tougher contest next year

Magic netball coach Noeline Taurua says it's been a tough competition this year and it's going to get tougher next year.

No New Zealand team won a game in Australia in the inaugural season.

Taurua says New Zealand teams will need to step up next year when they will have more games across the Tasman.

Some 12,099 people watched the game at Acer Arena in Sydney.