KEY POINTS:
A third-quarter blitz took the Canterbury Flames to a 53-46 win over the Auckland Diamonds in their National Bank Cup netball opener in Christchurch today.
The hosts were ahead 27-25 at halftime, and then moved into overdrive to outscore the Diamonds 16-8 in the penultimate quarter.
It proved crucial as the Diamonds rallied in the fourth quarter, heading Canterbury 13-10, but it was not enough to haul in the Flames at the Westpac centre.
The Diamonds started positively leading 15-11 after the first 15 minutes but Canterbury could not stem the Flames' mid-game flourish.
In other first round matches this week the Force beat Southern Sting 51-46 and Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic hammered the Western Flyers 74-28.
- NZPA
