Swifts answer critics with victory over Pulse
Sebastian Hassett 3:31 PM The NSW Swifts have bounced back to their very best form to inflict a 38-goal Mother's Day massacre on the hapless Central Pulse, registering their highest ever score in the ANZ Championship.
Tactix show harder edge under new coach
Linda Pearce 1:21 PM Melbourne Vixens coach Simone McKinnis is not sure if the Australian ways Tactix coach Sue Hawkins has brought to the perennial cellar-dwellers has necessarily led to a difference in style, but she has seen a noticeable change in more than just results ahead of the teams' round-six clash in Christchurch on Monday night.
Madi Robinson reaches her century
Linda Pearce Madi Robinson has a strong, rather than fond, memory of her first ANZ Championship game, in the opening round of the inaugural season. The Melbourne Vixens had been born from the difficult merger of the Phoenix and Kestrels, and Robinson, then Madison Browne, was in the Kestrel minority and just 20 years old.
Injury-time rule a game-changer, says Wright
David Sygall If your opponent was running away with the game, no problem, just go down injured and everything would stop. Not anymore.
NETBALL
Darters primed for another ANL away test
The Canberra Darters face another tough away trip when they take on the NSW Waratahs in round two of the Australian Netball League in Sydney this weekend.
Bailey set to return for Vixens for NZ clash
Linda Pearce Melbourne Vixens are likely to regain experienced shooter Karyn Bailey for their first New Zealand expedition of the ANZ Championship season.
Diamonds and Ferns: Swifts attackers put to the test
David Sygall Many observers thoughts Susan Pettitt should have been in Australia's squad for the World Cup. On Sunday she'll get to take on the Silver Ferns' defence.
Trans-Tasman split likely, if not necessarily welcome, says Mentor
Linda Pearce Geva Mentor has competed in all nine ANZ Championship seasons, but expects, like many, that this will be the last to be played on both sides of the ditch. Three new Australian franchises will be established in 2016, which is likely to be the trigger for the eight here to stand alone, and thus the end of the trans-Tasman competition as we know it.
Vixens too strong for Magic
Linda Pearce For all the turmoil around the Melbourne Vixens' injury-disrupted start to the season, the pieces are now gradually falling into place.
Netball
Darters succumb to Fury in road double
Jon Tuxworth The Canberra Darters have opened their Australian Netball League season with twin defeats to Victorian Fury.
Vixens down Magic
Linda Pearce With an emphatic 57-34 result at Hisense Arena on Sunday, the Melbourne Vixens improved their season record to 2-2 and regained their winning record against the Magic in their first home victory of 2016.
Aiken hits hot 52 goals to down Swifts
Fifty-two goals from sharpshooter Romelda Aiken have hoisted the Queensland Firebirds to a 61-51 win over the NSW Swifts in their ANZ Championship grand final rematch.
New Vixen Rydes a crazy wave. Hers.
Linda Pearce After 19-year-old shooter Emma Ryde's surprise cameo in the Melbourne Vixens' opening round trouncing by the NSW Swifts, the debutant considered offering a tongue-in-cheek message to coach Simone McKinnis: "Thanks, Simone. First game, against Sharni Layton, it doesn't get much bigger than that. And harder".
Heartbreaking loss was Swifts' greatest lesson
David Sygall It was the best grand final ever and a great moment in Australian sport. But, for the NSW Swifts, their shattering loss to the Firebirds with 14 seconds left in last year's decider could have been the start of something big.
Bailey unlikely to resume for Vixens
Linda Pearce Melbourne Vixens coach Simone McKinnis will wait until after Friday's training session to make a final call on injured shooter Karyn Bailey's fitness for the important home game against the Magic, but the 29-year-old is expected to be sidelined for another week. Bailey injured her foot at training and missed the April 16 loss to the Firebirds before the Vixens adjourned for the bye in round four. They resume on Sunday at Hisense Arena against the winless Magic, traditionally the most consistent of the five New Zealand franchises, but having also been beset by injury problems early in 2016. The standout match of the ANZ Championship round is the grand final rematch between the Firebirds and NSW Swifts in Brisbane on Saturday afternoon. Both leading Australian conference teams are undefeated.
New-look Darters set for early season test against Fury
Kyle Mackey-Laws Scotland captain Hayley Mulheron will headline a revitalised Canberra Darters squad chasing a maiden finals berth.
Swifts set up netball blockbuster
Chris Pike NSW Swifts have set the scene for a blockbuster grand final rematch with the Queensland Firebirds as they ended West Coast Fever's unbeaten start to the trans-Tasman netball league season.
Hadley pleased to play among greats
David Sygall The NSW Swifts take on the unbeaten West Coast Fever in Perth on Sunday. But Paige Hadley is just as daunted by the players who flank her in the midcourt.
Australian pair plot Pulse revolution
Cathy Walshe Australian midcourters Jacinta Messer and Chelsea Locke are masterminding a revolution at the Central Pulse this season.
