THE Queensland Firebirds have returned to the winners list in an emphatic way, comfortably defeating the GIANTS 68 goals to 50.

Although the game may have started out tight, the Firebirds really lifted in the second half to ultimately run away with the win.

After making the most of a defensive turnover and then consolidating off the next centre pass, it was the GIANTS who took the initial early lead.

Their lead did not last long though as the Firebirds were able to quickly return the game to a goal for goal affair.

The GIANTS were able to get back the lead just before the Power Five, but it was hardly a comfortable one.

Some key missed shots from the Firebirds proved to be difference in the end as the GIANTS took a three goal lead into the first break.

It remained tight early in the second term, but the GIANTS kept the lead. Things worsened for the Firebirds when Donnell Wallam had to come off the court with a finger injury. Luckily for the Firebirds it was not too serious and she was able to return to court later in the match.

The GIANTS took that opportunity to grow their lead, but then the Firebirds’ shooters then settled and closed the gap again.

After the GIANTS re-established their four goal lead, which was a game-high at the time, Mia Stower really kicked into gear and scored back to back Super Shots to tie things up.

Stower’s two Super Shots proved to be the final scores of the quarter as the teams went into half time all square.

The game continued to be extremely tight in the third term, with neither side able to shake off the other.

Both sides were feeling the pressure in the quarter as they kept throwing the ball away in attack.

However, things changed in the Power Five as the Firebirds wrestled control of the game and were rewarded on the scoreboard.

The Firebirds had really lifted and as such, took a six-goal lead into the final change.

The GIANTS rejigged their attack end at the final change – bringing on Matisse Letherbarrow for Jo Harten – but things went from bad to worse for the home side. It was a different Queensland side that came out as they put the foot down and ran away with the match.

The Firebirds were already 14 goals up at the beginning of the Power Five, but that just grew as the Power Five played out. The Firebirds ultimately scored double the number of goals the GIANTS did in the last term to run away with the win.

For the Firebirds, Remi Kamo (nine gains, five intercepts, five deflections, two rebounds) and Lara Dunkley (37 feeds, 24 feeds, one defection) both starred, as did April Brandley (four gains, four deflections, three rebounds, one intercept) and Jamie-Lee Price (27 feeds, 17 assists, three gains, two intercepts, two deflections) for the GIANTS.

GIANTS NETBALL                          17 | 11 | 10 | 12 (50)    
QUEENSLAND FIREBIRDS             14 | 14 | 16 | 24 (68)

STARTING SEVENS

GIANTS Netball

GS: Jo Harten
GA: Sophie Dwyer
WA: Maddie Hay
C: Jamie-Lee Price
WD: Amy Parmenter
GD: April Brandley
GK: Lauren Moore

Queensland Firebirds

GS: Donnell Wallam
GA: Emily Moore
WA: Lara Dunkley
C: Leesa Mi Mi
WD: Kim Ravaillion
GD: Ruby Bakewell-Doran
GK: Remi Kamo