The Suncorp Super Netball League (SSN) started live on NetballPass this weekend, with different international duos dominating throughout the league.
First up, Australian Diamonds Sophie Garbin and Kiera Austin were clinical for Melbourne Vixens in their victory over the new kids on the block, and now fellow Melbourne side, Mavericks.
It was Garbin’s first SSN appearance for Vixen’s and she did not disappoint, shooting at 91%.
Joining her in the circle was fellow Diamond, Austin, and she was equally as important as she scored 19 goals, including five Super Shots, and made three gains.
Elsewhere, two Jamaican Sunshine Girls, Shanice Beckford and Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, shone as they teamed up for West Coast Fever in their first match of the season against Giants.
Fowler-Nembhard missed just one shot all game, a Super Shot, getting her season off to a strong start as she marked her spot at the top of the SSN goals scored charts.
At the other end of the court for Fever, England Rose Fran Williams made her SSN debut making two gains, as Fever won 65-84.
Another new-look combination that the international Netball Family were treated to on NetballPass was Australian Diamonds Captain, Liz Watson, feeding into fellow Diamond Cara Koenen at Sunshine Coast Lightning.
Watson slotted right into the Lightning team making 45 feeds and 29 goals assists, whilst Koenen missed just three shots all game taking her season tally after one round to 50.
Watson is now second in the leagues goal assists table, whilst Koenen is 2nd in the goals scored table.
Lightning went on to win the match 79-63 against Swifts.
Finally, the Netball Family were able to watch the defending Champions Thunderbirds taking on Firebirds, and this match up did not disappoint with only one goal separating the two teams at full-time.
After a nervy start for both teams, perhaps with Thunderbirds feeling that had a lot to live up to after last season, it was eventually the Adelaide side that took the lead 18-14 – their biggest quarter win of the match.
In such a close game Jamaican Sunshine Girl, Shamera Sterling-Humphrey was crucial for Thunderbirds as she made six interceptions and 10 gains, that all contributed to her side taking the eventual 63-62 win.
You can catch up on all the games from Round 1 of the SSN now on NetballPass.
To view all the results, the current table, and read our International Player Watch preview, visit our SSN page here.
In Round 2 the international Netball Family will be able to watch:
- Firebirds vs Giants
- Vixens vs Thunderbirds
- Fever vs Lightning
- Swifts vs Mavericks
