Netball: Vixens beat Swifts in Sydney

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The Melbourne Vixens led from start to finish in a 49-45 triumph over the Sydney Swifts in their trans-Tasman netball championship clash at the State Sports Centre on Sunday.

It was the second time in as many weeks that the reigning champions were punished for a tardy start, after they went down in similar circumstances to the Queensland Firebirds.

Melbourne largely dominated the first quarter to lead 17-7 at the first break on the back of a tremendous shooting effort from Kate Beveridge, who landed 10 goals from as many attempts.

In the second quarter, Swifts coach Julie Fitzgerald replaced captain Catherine Cox for Carla Dziwoki in attack and that sparked the home side.

Sydney looked sharper in attack and that in turn put pressure on the Vixens when they had the ball.

With Dziwoki shooting eight from 10 goals and Melbourne's shooting percentage dropping from 94 per cent in the first quarter to 67 per cent in the second quarter Sydney had worked their way back into the game to trail 27-21 at halftime.

Sydney muscled their way through the third quarter to peg the deficit back within three points but the Vixens' consistency in attack never saw them relinquish the lead and at the final break they led 37-33.

The visitors managed to keep the Swifts at bay for much of the final quarter, maintaining the four-point gap and eventually running out victors by that margin.

- AAP