GIANTS Netball strung together their second consecutive win after knocking off an injury-depleted Queensland Firebirds by eight goals. The Firebirds were struck with some big injury news with up and coming defender Kim Jenner out after breaking her finger, while captain Gabi Simpson was managed throughout the game due to a groin injury. With an inexperience and undermanned defence the GIANTS took full advantage claiming all four bonus points credit to their ability to move the ball with speed and find their shooters with ease. After struggling in recent weeks the GIANTS looked much more composed across the court and their connections were a lot crisper.

It was a close contest in the opening term with the GIANTS taking a one goal lead into quarter time. The connection between Caitlin Bassett and Jo Harten looked slicker with the two goalers sharing the load between each other. Bassett nailed eight from eight while Harten proved to be a dominant force with her clever movement and rangy shots converting seven of her nine attempts. While her accuracy to post was solid, the off the ball work Harten was doing was equally impressing feeding the ball to Bassett time and time again. She brought her bag of tricks with an impressive lay-up style goal falling out of court after taking the ball at full speed sparking plenty of excitement. The Firebirds were stretched in defence with Laura Clemesha and Tara Hinchliffe working in overtime to try and limit the ball going into their opposing shooters. Clemesha pushed Basset up high and created doubt in the feeders’ mind picking up an intercept and a gain for her hard work but the experience of Bassett and Harten proved too much. Up the other end of the court Sam Poolman had an influence in defence for the GIANTS applying strong pressure over the shot and working Romelda Aiken under the ball. Aiken struggled to convert under the post and looked shaky on the shot dishing off to teammates.

With the margin only narrow at quarter time the Firebirds worked hard to stay in it but were unable to hold on as the GIANTS surged ahead. Wing attack Kim Green showcased her experience and ability to thread the needle with bullet passes into Harten and Bassett who were finding good space. The match-up between Simpson and Green was exciting but only lasted the first five to six minutes of each quarter with Simpson rested throughout the game given her injury. However, while on court she made her presence felt, picking up deflections, intercepts and using her speed to chase down and loose ball. The Firebirds were led by Gretel Tippett who showcased her work rate, creativity and sheer athleticism slotting 10 from 10 in the second term alone. She carried the load in attack with partner in crime Aiken well held. Tippett ran rings around Kristiana Manu’a who struggled to keep up with her athleticism. Firebirds coach, Roselee Jencke showed she was not afraid to make changes brining on Caitlyn Nevins in wing attack replacing speedster Jemma Mi Mi who was struggling to penetrate through the GIANTS strong defence.

After half-time the GIANTS kicked it up another gear with Bassett owning the goal circle. With Harten struggling to find her radar, youngster Keira Austin made her way onto the court and did not disappoint with her accuracy and play making ability. Austin slotted five goals from seven attempts and found good feeding position into Basset while Jamie-Lee Price also impressed in the third term with her ability to apply defensive pressure picking up an intercept and gain while also using her precision passes to assist the goalers. Through the midcourt for the Firebirds, Mahalia Cassidy worked tirelessly to apply hands over pressure and attack the ball. Youngster, Maddie Hinchliffe made her first appearance of the season and proved that she has what it takes to compete at the highest level with her tenacity and ability to read the play with a clever deflection. With Aiken struggling under the post she strayed away from her usual holding game under the post coming out the circle to provide Tippett with more freedom and space inside the goal circle. But the GIANTS were able to weave the ball down the court with ease and poke holes in the defence of the Firebirds credit to their wealth of experience and clever game play.

With the Firebirds struggling to find their rhythm across the court and down by seven goals at three quarter time, Tippett stood up absorbing the pressure and showcasing her pure class once again. Her accuracy, timing and ability to create space puts her in a league of her own nailing 15 goals straight and finishing with 41 from 41. Aiken struggled under the post only managing one from three in the final term. GIANTS wing defence, Amy Parmenter was solid applying good pressure over Nevins and working hard to try and limit her influence picking up an intercept and gain in the final term. But since being injected into the game Nevins was prolific leading the way with 30 feeds and 18 goal assists. Defensively the duo of Clemesha and Hinchliffe looked more threatening in the last quarter with Simpson out the front with three combining for eight gains and four intercepts but it was a little too late.

STARTING LINE-UP:

Queensland Firebirds:

GS | Romelda Aiken
GA | Gretel Tippett
WA | Jemma Mi Mi
C | Mahalia Cassidy
WD | Gabi Sinclair
GD | Tara Hinchliffe
GK | Laura Clemesha

GIANTS Netball:

GS | Caitlin Bassett
GA | Jo Harten
WA | Kim Green
C | Jamie-Lee Price
WD | Amy Parmenter
GD | Kristiana Manu’a
GK | Sam Poolman