IN a remarkable game in Brisbane on Saturday, Queensland Firebirds were made to wait yet another week to taste their first victory, forced to share the points with West Coast Fever – both side’s second draws of the season. The home side headed into the match being the only side without a win, while the Fever had not started much better – an upset victory over a hot-and-cold Collingwood following a draw against premiership favourites Melbourne Vixens – had followed three straight losses to open the season for the grand finalists. The Fever appeared to have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat late in the contest, but a late goal to Abigail Latu-Meafou allowed the Firebirds to not only draw the contest, but come away with two of three bonus points awarded on the night, as well as two points for the draw.

The Firebirds have had a horrific start on the injury front this year and it was Silver Fern, Latu-Meafou starting in the goal cirle with the red-hot Gretel Tippett, with the pair having Fever captain Courtney Bruce – in her second game back – and Stacey Francis for company. Up the other end, Laura Clemesha was tasked with the starting job on power shooter Jhaniele Fowler, while Tara Hinchliffe held down goal defence.

The Firebirds got away to the perfect start to lead by three goals at quarter time, with the shared contribution between Latu-Meafou and Tippett the big difference between the sides. The pair shot 17 of a possible 18 shots, while Caitlyn Nevins had a massive first term, providing eight goal assists from nine feeds, working hard in the front half with seven centre pass receives. Up the other end, Hinchliffe had four deflections, two gains and one rebound. For the Fever, Fowler was made to earn her goals by Clemesha, putting up 14 of a possible 16 attempts, while Kaylia Stanton did not manage to sink either of her two attempts. It was Verity Charles in centre who had started strongly for the Fever and was a key cog in their midcourt courtesy of six goal assists from 10 feeds, while Stanton herself helped Fowler with five goal assists from seven feeds.

The second term was more even, but it was the Firebirds who started stronger as they scored three early goals to lead by five as Queensland captain Gabi Simpson was having an impact. There were some tense moments in the Fever camp as Charles went down and out for an injury timeout courtesy of an ankle injury, but soon returned after a tactical timeout. Just as it looked like the Firebirds might open up the lead, Fever hit back, and courtesy of a Fowler goal on the whistle – her twelfth of the term – the margin was back to three and the visitors denied the home side of a second straight bonus point. Fowler was again forced to earn her shots with 12 of 14 going in, this time against Kim Jenner, while Stanton had a more fruitful return in the quarter with four from six, including five goal assists from her eight feeds. Bruce was crucial up the other end with two rebounds, three gains and one intercept, as Shannon Eagland replaced Francis in the defensive goal circle. It was Simpson however who stepped up with two interceptions, two deflections and four gains in a huge term by the overlooked Diamond, while Tippett (nine goals from 10) and Latu-Meafou (seven from nine) continued to share the goals around. Nevins was prolific at wing attack with eight of her side’s 14 goal assists, while having a game-high 12 feeds in the term.

After the half-time break it was the in-form Fever who came to play, piling on nine of the first 14 goals on their way to a 17-13 quarter to not only take home a bonus point, but also find themselves one point ahead heading into the final term. Fowler was beginning to be more of her prolific self with 16 of her 17 attempts going in, as Stanton put up one shot to effect, while handing Fowler seven successful attempts from her seven feeds. The scoring up the Firebirds end had dried up more, as Latu-Meafou had just the four goals from five attempts, while Tippett still remained strong with nine from nine. Nevins was still impressive with six goal assists from seven feeds, while the Fever’s Charles was doing well against Jemma Mi Mi in midcourt.

The final term was a see-sawing contest with both sides not giving an inch in their bid for an all-important win, as well as a bonus point. Bruce was starting to show signs of her arm injury flaring up again which would have made Diamonds fans and selectors very nervous, as she remained out there in the crucial final term. She still picked up five deflections, one rebounds and a gain, while Charles had four goal assists from five feeds in midcourt. Fowler and Stanton did not miss a shot in the final term, nailing all 15 attempts, with 13 of them coming from Fowler, and Stanton helping her high volume shooting teammate with seven assists from eight feeds. The Firebirds scored 16 of a possible 17 goals, with Latu-Meafou missing one goal from eight attempts – but scored the goal to draw it in the final seconds – while Tippett was again a ray of consistency with nine from nine. Nevins’ terrific form continued with 10 goal assists from 11 feeds in a massive term. Up the defensive end, Tara Hinchliffe had three deflections, one intercept and one gain as the Firebirds did enough to win the bonus point in the 16-15 quarter, and draw the match.

Tippett was deservingly named Player of the Match for her 35 goals from 36 attempts, while Nevins was unbelievable in wing attack with 32 assists from 39 feeds as well as two gains, one intercept and one deflection. Simpson had a massive seven deflections, six gains and three intercepts in a message to Australian selections, while Hinchliffe also stood tall with 11 deflections, four gains and one intercept. For the Fever, Fowler was inaccurate by her standards, but still shot 55 of a possible 60 shots, while Stanton overcame early woes with inaccuracy to shoot seven from 11 and have a team-high 24 goal assists from 30 feeds playing the perfect secondary role in the circle. Bruce was all-important despite her injury concerns, finishing with three rebounds, three intercepts, eight gains and nine deflections, while Charles ended up with 18 goal assists from 31 feeds. The draw was enough for the Fever to leapfrog Adelaide Thunderbirds into sixth. Next week both sides face must-win clashes against top four opponents with the Fever taking on the fourth placed GIANTS, while the Firebirds take on the red-hot New South Wales (NSW) Swifts in a top-versus-bottom clash.

STARTING LINE-UPS:

Queensland Firebirds:

GS | Abigail Latu-Meafou
GA | Gretel Tippett
WA | Caitlyn Nevins
C | Jemma Mi Mi
WD | Gabi Simpson
GD | Tara Hinchliffe
GK | Laura Clemesha

West Coast Fever:

GS | Jhaniele Fowler
GA | Kaylia Stanton
WA | Ingrid Colyer
C | Verity Charles
WD | Jess Anstiss
GD | Stacey Francis
GK | Courtney Bruce