IT was an enthralling and heart stopping battle as GIANTS Netball stole a narrow one-goal win against Queensland Firebirds in the dying seconds of the game. Coming off their first win of the season, the Firebirds were up and about early but the super sub in Caitlin Bassett proved to be the difference between the two sides.

The Firebirds hit the scoreboard within the first 20 seconds, as Romelda Aiken picked up where she left off from last round, sinking the first goal of the game. An early fumble from the Firebirds on their centre pass allowed the GIANTS to stream down court and capitalise but Queensland fired back on the next play to win ball back and level the scores. A scrappy couple of minutes ensued with both teams getting a rush of blood and throwing ball away time and time again. Tara Hinchliffe asserted herself early reading the play well to pick up early ball and propel it back down the court but they struggled to capitalise. The finesse into the goal circle was missing for both teams as the GIANTS and Firebirds overcooked passes into the goal circle allowing the lead to ebb and flow with neither team able to gain any real continuity.

The GIANTS opened up a two-goal buffer and looked to maintain it with Jo Harten dictating the play in the goal circle and looking composed to post. However the final five minutes completely changed the flow of the game with the Firebirds kicking it up a gear as Tippah Dwan took control to nail back-to-back super shots and steal the lead. Dwan relished the precise ball placement from centre Mahalia Cassidy who was doing a mountain load of work through the midcourt for the Firebirds both in attack and defence. With the Firebirds taking advantage of the super shot, the GIANTS proved they were more than happy to take a cautious approach to goal

Holding a narrow lead at quarter time, the Firebirds looked to extend the lead with goal defence Kim Jenner coming through with a huge intercept. But the GIANTS cut back the margin to three goals as it turned into a shootout for the next couple of minutes as they went goal for goal. Aiken stood strong in attack constantly commanding the ball and delivering on the scoreboard to keep the tally ticking over. With the lead blowing out again the GIANTS called a timeout at the 10-minute mark with Julie Fitzgerald looking to the bench and brining on Diamonds goal shooter Caitlin Bassett.

Both sides came out of the break messy but it was the Firebirds that hit first through the hands of Aiken while Jemma Mi Mi found a wealth of space in the attacking third to hit circle edge. Queensland pushed out to six goals before Bassett found her rhythm under the post to sink consecutive goals to steal the momentum. The switch of Kiera Austin also worked wonders for the GIANTS with her clever placement into the circle while she also showcased her defensive attributes to pick up an intercept along the transverse line. A strong rebound from Hinchliffe sparked the Firebirds momentarily but an all round increased defensive pressure through the midcourt from the GIANTS created tips which most importantly translated into goals. Kristiana Manu’a injecting herself into the contest with a well-read intercept and was rewarded for her efforts slicing the margin to a mere goal. Strong in the opening term, Amy Parmenter also upped the ante in defence flying across the court to disrupt the Firebirds’ flow in attack. but it was the final play from Harten that levelled the scores at half time with the goaler sinking her first super shot of the match.

With scores tied at the main break, the Firebirds injected some fresh legs into the midcourt as Macy Gardner entered the court at wing attack and Lara Dunkley staying on at centre after finishing the second term. Neither side could be separated in the early stages of the quarter going blow for blow, however the quick transition down court for the GIANTS seemed to give them a slight edge over their competitors. Dunkley found good feeding space to deliver into Aiken while up the other end Jamie-Lee Price tussled hard.

Entering the super shot period it was Dwan that once again took the game by the scruff of the neck to sink the long bomb and steal the lead as the GIANTS showed their desire to play it safe. Firebirds skipped out to a three goal lead but the GIANTS pegged away at the lead through the hands of Bassett but it was Queensland that kept their noses in front.

GIANTS tied the scores within the opening minutes of the term before the Firebirds wrestled back the control to establish a two-goal buffer. With the game on the line Gabi Simpson took it up a notch matching Austin in attack and smothering her movement while Sam Poolman worked herself into the contest for the GIANTS to get them back on a level playing field. A flurry of goals from the girls in orange saw them extend to a three goal lead but that was short lived as the Firebirds clawed their way back into the contest forcing the GIANTS to take a timeout. With five seconds left on the clock Bassett delivered the match winning blow to clinch a one goal victory over the Firebirds.

After a stunning performance last round, especially from the super shot zone, Austin did not have the same influence with six goals but instead plied her trade in wing attack to rack up a team high 28 goal assists. Harten was a solid contributor for the GIANTS frontend with 21 goals at 88 per cent accuracy, while Bassett came out with a point to prove nailing 37 goals. Up the other end Aiken was influential as ever for the Firebirds to topscore with 43 goals and an impressive two super shots while partner in crime Dwan also plied her trade with four super shots to accompany  her 10 goals. Hinchliffe led the charge in defence racking up three intercepts and five gains while Manu’a also had a commanding influence down back with two intercepts.

>>> GIANTS TEAM PAGE
>>> FIREBIRDS TEAM PAGE
>>> FULL GAME STATS

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GIANTS Netball 13 | 19 | 15 | 19 (66)
Queensland Firebirds 17 | 15 | 17 | 16 (65)

STARTING SEVEN: 

GIANTS Netball:

GS: Jo Harten
GA: Kiera Austin
WA: Maddie Hay
C: Jamie-Lee Price
WD: Amy Parmenter
GD: Kristiana Manu’a
GK: Sam Poolman

Queensland Firebirds:

GS: Romelda Aiken
GA: Tippah Dwan
WA: Jemma Mi Mi
C: Mahalia Cassidy
WD: Gabi Simpson
GD: Kim Jenner
GK: Tara Hinchliffe