Swifts notch pre-season netball win

The NSW Swifts have opened their pre-season with a convincing 12-goal win over leading Kiwi club Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in Te Awamutu.

Fielding the core of the team that clinched a maiden Super Netball crown last year, the Swifts dominated the final quarter 16-9 to prevail 66-54 on Wednesday.

Australian international stars Paige Hadley and Sarah Klau were among the sharper performers in a NSW team missing their new signing, Silver Fern Kayla Cullen (illness), along with injured pair Maddy Proud and Lauren Moore.

It continued a busy period of trans-Tasman warmup matches in New Zealand.

A Queensland Firebirds team missing injured shooter Romelda Aiken squared two matches against Kiwi champions the Central Pulse last weekend.

The Firebirds lost the opener 58-56 but won the second game 61-54.

Auckland hosts a mini-tournament this week which pits the Giants and Melbourne Vixens against host clubs the Northern Stars and Northern Mystics.