The Lightning led by eight heading into the final term and had won all three previous quarters to have the game in their control. But the Magpies stormed back to within two goals in the last quarter with a 15-9 run.
Collingwood had several chances to close that gap even further but were unable to complete what would have been a memorable come-from-behind win.
Both sides were desperate for a win, with the Lightning starting the season 0-3, while the Magpies had only last weekends victory over the Thunderbirds to their name.
The Lightning came into the match without coach Noeline Taurua, who returned to New Zealand to be with her ill father. Assistant coach Kylee Byrne stepped in, while development coach Christine Voge moved into the assistant role.
The tone of the match was set early as Geva Mentor and Caitlin Thwaites collided heavily contesting the ball, both hitting the court but returning to their feet to play on.
The defensive efforts from both sides made goals hard to come by, with seven turnovers and three missed goals in the opening minutes, as both sides jostled for ascendancy through physicality. That showed on the scoreboard, with the two sides locked at 4-4 midway through the first quarter.
That was the theme for the whole term, with both sides getting their noses in front at different times. But it was the Sunshine Coast who claimed the bonus point with a slender 11-10 lead at quarter time.
Erin Bell struggled with her radar for the Magpies in the first term, with Alice Teague-Neeld brought into the goal attack position to replace her.
But as the Lightning’s Karla Pretorius hauled in her fifth intercept for the game, the Sunshine Coast extended their lead to 14-11.
It was a genuine battle of attrition, with the turnover count almost exceeding the total goals in the game during the second quarter. The Lightning ground out a four-goal lead on their way to claiming their second bonus point and a 26-23 halftime advantage following a late Caitlin Thwaites goal for the Magpies.
The Magpies needed a spark, and injected Kim Ravaillion into centre just before halftime and brought Bell back into the attack after the break. But it was the Lightning who started the stronger, going on a 3-1 run and pushing the lead out to 29-24. That prompted the Magpies to move Matilda Garrett into defence with Diamond April Brandley given a spell on the bench.
But the Sunshine Coast just kept rolling forward and went into the final quarter leading by eight goals, before the Magpies mounted their charge.
Q1: Magpies 10 v Lightning 11
Q2: Magpies 13 v Lightning 15
Q3: Magpies 12 v Lightning 17
Q4: Magpies 15 v Lightning 9
Suncorp Super Netball premiership points
Lightning 7
Magpies 1
Magpies shooting statistics
Caitlin Thwaites 36/41
Erin Bell 14/20
Lightning shooting statistics
Caitlin Bassett 37/37
Steph Wood 15/22
Magpies starting seven – GS: Caitlin Thwaites, GA: Erin Bell, WA: Madi Robinson, C: Shae Brown, WD: Ash Brazill, GD: April Brandley, GK: Sharni Layton
Lightning starting seven – GS: Caitlin Bassett, GA: Steph Wood, WA: Kelsey Browne, C: Laura Scherian, WD: Madeline McAuliffe, GD: Madeline McAuliffe, GK: Madeline McAuliffe
Nissan MVP: Caitlin Bassett
