Netball: Thunderbirds soar over Swifts

Adelaide Thunderbirds have pulled off a surprise 57-53 win over the NSW Swifts in Saturday's trans-Tasman netball clash at ETSA Park.

The win, before an ecstatic home crowd, came after clever turnarounds by Thunderbirds captain Natalie von Bertouch and goal attack Erin Bell.

The duo were key in ensuring the ball kept flowing to goalshooter Carla Borego, who scored 38 goals from 41 attempts to lead the way for a shock victory for the reigning champions.

NSW Captain and goalshooter Catherine Cox was outstanding for the Swifts, shooting a near perfect score in two quarters on her way to scoring 34 from 39.

But despite a brave fight, Cox's side failed to find their rhythm in what was the first of three gruelling matches in just six days.

A win would have moved NSW up from fourth to second place on the ladder, on percentage.

The result lifted the Thunderbirds to sixth on the ladder, ahead of the Southern Steel, who play on Sunday.

- AAP