Borrego's T-birds lose season-opener

SYDNEY, Australia (CMC):

Carla Borrego was well contained and reigning champions Adelaide Thunderbirds stumbled over the first hurdle, when the New South Wales Swifts thumped them 60-40 in the opening match of the new ANZ Championship season yesterday.

The Jamaican goalshooter scored 31 goals from 36 attempts for the visitors, but the Swift's defensive pair of England international Sonia Mkoloma and Aussie international Rebecca Bulley ensured she did not hurt the home team too much in their match at the Olympic Park Sports Centre.

Slick and quick swifts

The T-birds are rebuilding after the departure of an experienced core of players, including defender Moonia Gerrard, now a member of Swifts line-up and whose presence at wing defence meant that the visitors toiled to get passes in to Borrego and her fellow shooters.

Slick and quick through the court, the Swifts opened up a healthy early lead and with the T-birds struggling to retain the ball and conversion rates, the home team led 15-10 after the first quarter.

The second period ran almost similarly to the first and the Swifts threatened to run away with proceedings, as Adelaide continued their struggle to penetrate through their attacking third and faced a growing penalty count defensively. At half-time, NSW were leading 29-16.

The T-birds rearranged their defence and introduced Bianca Giteau at goal attack alongside Borrego and this helped them to secure their best period of the match, but the Swifts' dominance was never under threat, despite sloppy play, and they held firm at 44-28 after three periods.

In the final stanza, the Swifts managed to raid their bench, as they went on to finish with a flourish.