Defending champion Vixens defeat Magic

The Melbourne Vixens opened the defence of their ANZ Championship netball crown with a composed 48-40 defeat of Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic in Melbourne tonight.

A dominant third quarter by the Vixens effectively denied New Zealand franchises a clean sweep over their Australian rivals in round one after the Northern Mystics and Southern Steel had accounted for the Adelaide Thunderbirds and West Coast Fever.

Leading 23-21 at the main break after erasing a five-goal deficit early in the second quarter, the Vixens ruled the penultimate quarter 14-7 - as Sharelle McMahon and Caitlin Thwaites embellished the decisive momentum swing.

Irene van Dyk inevitably spearheaded an unlikely comeback, trimming the nine-goal deficit to four before goal attack McMahon eased the home side's nerves by closing out the match with 23 successful attempts from 27.

Magic coach Noeline Taurua made multiple changes at halftime - but to no avail - as the Vixens wrestled control of a midcourt previously dominated by returning former Australian international Peta Scholz and Silver Fern Laura Langman.

Van Dyk, who started the match at goal attack, donned her preferred GS bib for the remainder but was initially starved of possession - crucially she was limited to just two attempts in the third quarter

while as McMahon and Thwaites enjoyed more freedom in their attacking circle.

Van Dyk ended with 19 from 22 while new arrival Jodi Brown provided 10 from 13 after understandably replacing Jess Tuki, whose accuracy deteriorated in the second quarter.

Tuki (11/19) was one of several casualties as Taurua opted for a radically different line-up in a bid to halt the Vixens' charge.

Goal defence Jodi Tod, who had a torrid time against McMahon, made way for Kahurangi Waititi while midcourter Frances Solia was temporarily replaced by Tanya Lund, who found herself back on the bench after an ineffectual third quarter.

Instead the champions embarked on a 12-3 scoring spree as van Dyk was sandwiched by Bianca Chatfield and Demelza McCloud - drafted in at late notice for injured Australian international Julie Corletto.

The Magic shot at 74 per cent compared to the Vixens 81pc and were on the wrong end of another telling stat - they coughed up possession 24 times to the champions 14.

There were positive signs for the New Zealanders, who were making their first public appearance after opting not to compete in pre-season tournaments.

Scholz - who played the last of her 54 tests in 2004 - looks like an astute acquisition while premier defender Casey Williams was at her combative, intercepting best.

Melbourne Vixens 48 (Sharelle McMahon 23/27, Caitlin Thwaites 25/31) Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic 40 (Irene van Dyk 19/22, Jess Tuki 11/19, Jodi Brown 10/13) Halftime: 23-21

- NZPA