Adelaide Thunderbirds won their first game of the trans-Tasman netball season, holding on to defeat Melbourne Vixens by two goals at Netball SA Stadium on Sunday.
The upset 47-45 victory added to the celebrations of captain Renae Hallinan's 100th game, although Adelaide was still at the bottom of the Australian conference on goal difference.
In front of a near capacity crowd, the home side led at every break and withstood a late fightback from the Vixens.
Amy Steel continued her impressive start to the season to star at goal defence, while at the other end, Carla Borrego and Erin Bell shared the shooting load.
Renae Hallinan was also influential in her milestone game, shutting down the Vixen's wing-attack Madison Robinson.
The captain said a full-court effort got her side over the line.
"It's hard to pick who takes the points today because everyone ran out there and did their job for 60 minutes and that's what you've got to do to beat a side like the Vixens," Hallinan said.
"I'm absolutely thrilled, relieved, I'm so proud of the girls."
Thunderbirds coach Jane Woodlands-Thompson said the result was a relief after their disappointing start to the season.
"We were building towards that. I thought we'd shown the character and fighting spirit over the last few weeks without coming with the points or all of the points, so I think today was the day where all of those things came together," she said.
The win was also the Thunderbirds first over the Vixens in their past four encounters and reverses a nine goal loss a fortnight ago.
Vixens coach Simone McKinnis said she expected the Thunderbirds to come out firing.
"Definitely coming into the game you knew it was going to be a tough one and was going to take the best from us to get a win," she said.
"The Thunderbirds played very well and we just didn't match them for intensity and focus."
The Thunderbirds face the tough road trip to Perth next week to take on West Coast Fever, while the Vixens have the bye.
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