Adelaide Thunderbirds gave two retiring stalwarts a stylish home farewell with a three-goal victory against Mainland Tactix in the trans-Tasman netball championship.
Adelaide prevailed 58-55 in a hard-fought Sunday encounter to give Emily Beaton and Carla Borrego a win in their last home match after the pair announced their retirements midweek.
Borrego, who cited a knee injury as the reason for her retirement, was left on the bench for the entire match against the Tactix and won't play in Adelaide's last match of the year, an away fixture in New Zealand next weekend.
Beaton, who will play next weekend, played 21 minutes against the Tactix as the Thunderbirds logged just their second win of the season.
Adelaide were propelled to victory by influential shooters Kristina Brice and captain Erin Bell - both scored 29 goals from 34 attempts.
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"It meant a lot. We have had such a hard season and thing just haven't been going our way," Bell said.
"To finish our last home game here, and Carla's last game for the club, we really did have a lot to play for ... it was great to get that win."
The shooting accuracy of Bell and Brice was telling against a Tactix side which was overly reliant on star goalshooter Mwai Kumwenda, who converted 33 of her 36 attempts.
In contrast, Tactix goal attack Bailey Mes struggled with 22 goals from 31 shots.
The Thunderbirds finish their season against Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic next Sunday in Hamilton, while the Tactix, also just winners twice this season, meet Northern Mystics in Auckland next Saturday.
