Borrego, Thunder-birds look to retain title

SYDNEY, Australia (CMC):

Carla Borrego and the reigning Adelaide Thunder-birds will feature in the opening match of the new ANZ Championship when they face favourites New South Wales Swift today at Olympic Park Sports Centre.

The Jamaican goal shooter was the leading scorer in the championship last year, and she is expected to play another pivotal role in the T-birds' drive to retain the title, which is in its fourth year.

After finishing the round-robin games in second place last year, the Thunderbirds thumped the unbeaten Swift in the playoffs, and carried on to win the championship.

The T-birds are well aware of the challenge they face in trying to defend their title, but might not have the weapons to defend the title.

The departure of defensive powerhouses Mo'onia Gerrard and Geva Mentor have left them very vulnerable in the defensive circle.

Gerrard has moved back to the Swift, and will link up with imposing English international goalkeeper Sonia Mkoloma to form a solid defensive pair.

With a number of seasoned players throughout the rest of the court, the Swift look like the team to beat.

If the T-birds can run them close, it would be a fillip for Jane Woodlands-Thompson's side, but if they're well beaten, they will probably concede they will have a long, arduous season.

Adelaide are the only Australian team to have made the finals in each of the competition's first three years, and still boast formidable talent in captain and mid-court general Natalie von Bertouch, among others.

This season, the championship will feature three players with ties to Jamaica. The other two are beanpole goal shooter Romelda Aiken and defender Kasey Evering.

Aiken has been one of the most consistent shooters in the championship over the last three years, with the Queensland Firebirds.

They will be looking to shrug off the accursed bridesmaid tag after they finished fifth in each of the first three seasons.

The Firebirds have retained key players, defender Laura Geitz, and mid-court stalwart Lauren Nourse.

The finals appear out of the question for last year's wooden-spoon holder Canterbury Tactix of New Zealand, which have acquired the services of Evering.

With the competition moved forward due to the mid-year World Championships in Singapore, there will be three Super rounds, in which some teams will have to play two matches in a few days.