Thunderbirds 53
Tactix 48
Swifts 59
Mystics 55
The Kiwis had a tough time last night in the transtasman netball contest.
In Christchurch, the Adelaide Thunderbirds overcame a gutsy Canterbury Tactix in extra time.
And in Sydney, the Northern Mystics were unable to break the hoodoo on New Zealand teams in Australia, falling 59-55 to the NSW Swifts.
The Thunderbirds were ahead 25-23 at halftime, but battled to stay with the Tactix in a hectic final quarter, tying the game 42-42 in the final minute to force the match into overtime.
The Australians took a narrow lead at the end of the first seven minutes of extra time to lead 47-45, then opened out in the last spell, scoring six goals to secure the win.
The Thunderbirds' young goalshoot Jane Altschwager had a nightmare start, missing her first two shots and losing her confidence.
Altschwager was kept under close guard by uncompromising Tactix goalkeep Sonia Mkloma.
At the other end of the court, Tactix goalshoot Jodi Brown was looking strong but it was Silver Ferns squad member Anna Thompson who caught the eye with some surperb shooting.
But in the second spell. Coach Jane Woodlands-Thompson benched Altschwager, who shot only five from nine, and brought on Australian goalshoot Kate Beveridge.
The Thunderbirds looked a more settled team with Beveridge at the back, but it was Mo'onia Gerrard's shift from wing defence to goal defence which really tested the Tactix shooters.
Thompson was restricted to two shots in the 15-minute spell, sinking one, as the Thunderbirds worked their way back to be 25-23 up at halftime.
The Tactix came out firing in the third quarter, and went into the final quarter 35-33 up. They edged out to a five-goal lead but the Thunderbirds battled back to 42-42, sending the game into extra time.
In Sydney, the Mystics sniffed an upset at Olympic Park before the hosts drew away in the final two minutes.
The Mystics, down 27-33 at halftime, got back to 54-55 with 2m 57s left but made some crucial turnovers and the Swifts got home.
It was the fifth consecutive loss for a New Zealand side in Australia this year, carrying on from last year, when none was successful.
- NZPA
