Australian team shooters Catherine Cox and Kristen Heinrich each made a spectacular start to the new national netball league season, while Hunter Jaegers established a new club record after just two games.

Cox, the 2004 Australian Team Player of the Year, scored 32 goals from 34 attempts as Sydney Swifts started their title defence with a 63-32 away win over Perth Orioles.

Heinrich went one better, nailing 32 goals from 33 attempts as Adelaide Thunderbirds scored a 62-47 away win over Melbourne Kestrels.

Hunter, which defeated AIS Canberra Darters in the only game last week, made it two out of two with a 53-36 away win over Queensland Firebirds.

"We've had two wins away from home, which is better than we did last year, we only won one game when we travelled, so we've already improved on that," Hunter coach Maria Lynch said.

The Darters crashed to their second loss, 75-47 to Melbourne Phoenix at a sold out Geelong Arena, in the first game of the season to be played outside the regular big city venues.

Phoenix's experienced national team shooters Sharelle McMahon and Eloise Southby-Halbish, both of whom underwent ankle surgery in the off season, each played a full game.

McMahon, who was limited to a half in Australia's early year Tests against England and South Africa, scored 41 goals at 84 per cent while Southby-Halbish netted 34 at 87 per cent.

Phoenix, without Australian squad defender Bianca Chatfield due to glandular fever, was held to 15-15 at the first break, but the Darters lost momentum after centre Kimberlee Green sprained her left ankle late in the opening quarter.

Thunderbirds coach Margaret Angove was full of praise for Heinrich who copped a buffeting from Phoenix defenders Narelle Garbutt and Rebecca Strachan.

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