Defending national netball league champion Sydney have emphatically ended ladder leader Melbourne Phoenix's unbeaten season with a crushing 56-47 win at Acer Arena.

Phoenix, who hadn't lost for 10 months since last year's preliminary final defeat by Adelaide, were unable to display the form which had enabled them to start the current campaign with eight successive wins.

Second-placed Sydney, who moved to within two points of Phoenix dominated the game after an even start.

Phoenix had two more attempts, but couldn't match the accuracy of Sydney duo Susan Pratley (23/23) and Catherine Cox (33/39), with the later refreshed after a week off training.

In the early match of the Sydney double header, third-placed Melbourne Kestrels notched their sixth win from their last seven games with a 63-54 victory over Hunter Jaegers.

Queensland continued their resurgence and moved above Adelaide into fourth spot with a thrilling 57-56 home win over the Thunderbirds.

Adelaide had 15 more attempts, but shot only 72 per cent to Queensland's 90, with Firebirds veteran Jo Morgan netting 47 of her 50 tries.

A haul of 46 goals from Caitlin Bassett helped Perth to a 55-48 away win over AIS Canberra Darters at AIS Arena.

Phoenix has a game in hand on Sydney, which it will play at home to Perth on Sunday, when the Kestrels also meet the Darters.

Phoenix coach Julie Hoornweg revamped her mid-court at half-time and while the visitors temporarily rallied after an injury break, Sydney's lead at one stage blew out to 14 in the final quarter.

Swifts coach Julie Fitzgerald felt it was the most complete performance by her team this season.

"I thought we were a lot smarter in attack tonight, I think previously we've had patches where we've been impatient in trying to force things that weren't on," Fitzgerald sais.

Hoornweg offered no excuses, saying the Swifts played well and her team probably produced its worst performance of the season.

"We weren't letting the ball go quite as well as we have been, it just didn't click, our timing was a little bit off," said Phoenix co-captain Sharelle McMahon.

Shooter McMahon (25/33) said she would be OK to play the Darters in Melbourne on Sunday, after landing on her shoulder following a third quarter clash with national squad team mate Mo'onia Gerrard.

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