Collingwood Magpies down Adelaide Thunderbirds in Super Netball thriller
Renae Ingles' was unable to bow out a winner in her final Super Netball match for Adelaide Thunderbirds. (AAP)
Collingwood have survived a big second-half scare to down the Adelaide Thunderbirds 49-47 in a Super Netball thriller at Titanium Security Arena.
The fourth-placed Magpies, led superbly in defence by ex-Thunderbird Sharni Layton, looked in control early, leading by as many as 11 points late in the second quarter and holding a 28-20 halftime lead before hosts Adelaide staged a stunning 15-7 third-quarter revival.
The Thunderbirds drew level at three-quarter time then seized the upper hand in a see-sawing fourth term before Collingwood, with league-leading scorer Caitlin Thwaites getting on a roll, finished with a 7-3 bang in the final five minutes.
Wobbly earlier this season, Collingwood has now banked six wins from their past seven outings ahead of a crunch semi-final against fellow expansion side the Giants next weekend.
The Magpies were too slick and clinical in the opening half, while the Thunderbirds were wayward, connecting at 60 per cent at the break.
Adelaide coach Dan Ryan reacted to the Thunderbirds' wayward first-half shooting by subbing in Karyn Bailey for the inaccurate Sasha Glasgow in the circle after the main break, which sparked the comeback.
Bottom-placed Adelaide couldn't prevent sliding to a 12th straight loss but were certainly not disgraced in retiring legend Renae Ingles' 161st and last match.
